Amid the scuffles, a DPP lawmaker was hospitalized after being thrown over a table by opponents and landing on his head. Additionally, a politician seized the draft legislation and fled the chamber to prevent voting by colleagues.
Following the clashes, the DPP reported that several of its members sustained injuries, with secretary-general Rosalia Wu suffering severe rib cage contusions. Other lawmakers suffered from concussions, tailbone fractures, and a dislocated hand. The party has expressed intentions to pursue legal action against what they perceive as “atrocities” committed by their political adversaries.
The DPP has accused the KMT and TPP of engaging in unconstitutional behavior by attempting to push proposals without customary consultations. Conversely, the opposition argues that Lai’s party is seeking to monopolize power on the island, which China considers part of its sovereign territory, by resisting proposed changes.
The Legislative Yuan, the Taiwanese parliament, witnessed a chaotic scene on Friday as a session turned into a violent brawl.
Lawmakers had convened to discuss a contentious proposal put forth by the opposition, which aimed to criminalize officials who make false statements in parliament and grant the legislature more authority to scrutinize the government. Prior to the session, tensions were already running high, with lawmakers engaging in heated arguments and physical altercations outside the building in Taipei.
However, matters escalated further when they entered the chamber, with members resorting to punches and even wrestling moves.
Disturbingly, videos from the Legislative Yuan depicted male lawmakers attacking their female counterparts in multiple instances. The brawl intermittently subsided and then flared up again, persisting late into the evening.
The altercations involved representatives from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The DPP, led by president-elect Lai Ching-te, is set to take office soon, while the KMT holds more parliamentary seats but lacks a majority, and the TPP has only eight seats.
Amid the scuffles, a DPP lawmaker was hospitalized after being thrown over a table by opponents and landing on his head. Additionally, a politician seized the draft legislation and fled the chamber to prevent voting by colleagues.
Following the clashes, the DPP reported that several of its members sustained injuries, with secretary-general Rosalia Wu suffering severe rib cage contusions. Other lawmakers suffered from concussions, tailbone fractures, and a dislocated hand. The party has expressed intentions to pursue legal action against what they perceive as “atrocities” committed by their political adversaries.
The DPP has accused the KMT and TPP of engaging in unconstitutional behavior by attempting to push proposals without customary consultations. Conversely, the opposition argues that Lai’s party is seeking to monopolize power on the island, which China considers part of its sovereign territory, by resisting proposed changes.
