Politics · Mexico · 3 hrs ago
Querétaro lawmaker Mario Calzada leaves PRI and joins Movimiento Ciudadano
Mario Calzada Mercado, a federal deputy for Querétaro, has left the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and joined Movimiento Ciudadano (MC).
The move was confirmed at an MC event in Mexico City on October 12, 2026, after Calzada submitted his PRI resignation the day before.
He has served as a local council member, mayor of El Marqués and federal deputy.
Calzada said his decision followed personal and political reflection, and that he will keep working in the Chamber of Deputies.
His move comes ahead of Mexico’s 2027 elections, when several elected positions will be renewed.
It also follows federal officials’ allegations of irregularities involving water-use permits linked to his family in Querétaro.
Officials said the family held five permits for about 628,000 cubic metres of water and alleged that some water was used for purposes other than those authorized.
Mario Calzada Mercado, a federal lawmaker from Querétaro, left the Institutional Revolutionary Party and joined Movimiento Ciudadano.
Movimiento Ciudadano confirmed his arrival at an event at its national headquarters in Mexico City on October 12, 2026.
Calzada said his change of party followed personal and political reflection and that he would continue his work in the Chamber of Deputies.
He resigned from the PRI in a letter to its national president the day before the announcement.
His move came after federal officials raised allegations about water concessions linked to his family in Querétaro.
- Who
- Mario Calzada Mercado, a federal lawmaker from Querétaro.
- What
- He left the PRI and joined Movimiento Ciudadano.
- When
- October 12, 2026; he formalized his resignation from the PRI the day before.
- Where
- The announcement was made at Movimiento Ciudadano’s national headquarters in Mexico City.
- Why
- Calzada said the change followed personal and political reflection. He did not specify his reasons in his resignation letter.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Federal officials raised allegations about the use of water concessions linked to the Calzada family.
Calzada formalized his resignation from the PRI in a letter to its national president.
Movimiento Ciudadano confirmed Calzada’s incorporation at an event at its national headquarters in Mexico City.
- New party
- Movimiento Ciudadano
- Former party
- Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)
- Announcement date
- October 12, 2026
- Announcement location
- Movimiento Ciudadano national headquarters, Mexico City
- Federal district
- District 5, Querétaro
- Water concessions cited by officials
- Around 628,000 cubic metres across five titles
Sources
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