### “Alito” Secures Another Term as PRI Leader, Extends Tenure by Four Years
Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, widely referred to as “Alito,” has secured his position as the national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) following an internal election held on Sunday, August 11, 2024. Partnering with Carolina Viggiano Austria, who ran for the role of Secretary-General of the National Executive Committee, Moreno Cárdenas received a significant majority of votes from party members.
“I am grateful for the support of the PRI members who voted for us in this internal election. I accept this role with great commitment and responsibility,” Moreno Cárdenas expressed on social media following the announcement of the election results, which position him to continue as president of the CEN. Viggiano Austria will also reprise her role as Secretary-General.
“We will guide our party toward a new direction of reflection and hard work to build victories from every corner of Mexico,” added the former governor of Campeche.
The election took place in Mexico City from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Central Time) under the method of the Assembly of Political Counselors. The National Commission of Internal Processes oversaw the organization and conduction of the election.
The Moreno Cárdenas and Viggiano Austria ticket received 440 endorsements, while the opposing candidates, federal deputy Lorena Piñón Rivera and Cuauhtémoc Betanzos, garnered only eight votes. Four votes were nullified.
This Sunday also saw the validation of the internal election and the issuance of certificates of majority, as stipulated in the corresponding call for applications.
Moreno and Viggiano first took the helm of the PRI leadership in 2019 for a four-year term. A statutory amendment in 2023 allowed them to extend their mandate until 2024. On July 7, another modification enabled them to run for re-election, despite Article 34 of the General Law of Political Parties prohibiting amendments to basic documents during an ongoing electoral process, such as the Federal Electoral Process 2023-2024.
To be eligible for re-election, Moreno Cárdenas and Viggiano temporarily stepped down from their roles, with former senator Graciela Ortiz González and former Zacatecas governor Miguel Alonso Reyes serving as interim leaders.
Following his re-election, Moreno Cárdenas will serve as leader for the statutory period of 2024-2028. “Let’s unite our forces, talents, and willpower in a common effort to rebuild the PRI on solid and renewed foundations,” Moreno said. He is also set to enter the Senate as a proportional representation senator in the LXVI Legislature.
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### Secondary Article: PRI Leadership Election Raises Concerns Among Party Members
While Alejandro “Alito” Moreno Cárdenas has secured his position as the leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) for another term, the internal election has not been without controversy. Several prominent party members have voiced their concerns, citing potential risks to the party’s future. For instance, Dulce María Sauri, a former PRI president, pointed out that Moreno’s re-election could lead the party “directly to the abyss.”
Moreover, the recent statutory amendments allowing Moreno and Viggiano to extend their tenure have been questioned. The approval of these changes in the run-up to a critical electoral cycle has raised eyebrows, especially given the prohibitions under the General Law of Political Parties.
Party members calling for a renewal argue that the PRI needs fresh leadership to regain its footing in the national political landscape. This perspective has led to a significant amount of internal debate, casting a shadow over the unity and future direction of the party.