Biggest fist fights in parliament
From giggling fits by the president, to a mass brawls, South Africa’s parliament has been the cause for much shame and embarrassment in recent weeks.
And while the behaviour of our leaders should never be condoned, we can find some solace in knowing that it happens in other countries.
A fight broke out during South African president Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address in February.
More than 330 police officers were used to forcefully remove the Economic Freedom Fighters MPs out of the National Assembly after interrupting the president’s speech, as the country looked on in horror.
The Ukraine has two famous heavyweight boxing title holders, the Klitschko brothers. However, the eastern European country has become synonymous for regular scuffles in its parliament.
In February, two members of the Ukrainian parliament, Yegor Sobolev of the “Samopomochi” party and Vadim Ivchenko from the “Fatherland” party, were involved in a physical altercation in the halls of the Ukrainian parliament.
The fight broke out when the two men disagreed over a corruption bill.
In 2014, a fight broke out between members of Ukraine’s Svoboda party during a debate over a law toughening responsibility for separatism.
And in 2012, a brawl broke out over a ‘controversial’ language law.
And when its not in the Ukraine, its about the Ukraine. In December 2013, a fight erupted in the Georgian parliament over plans to support the Ukrainian opposition.
On ‘Boxing Day’ in December lat year, fight erupted between ruling and opposition lawmakers in the Georgian parliament after opposition member Akaki Bobokhidze’s swore in an address to ruling coalition MPs.
Turkey has also seen its fair share of fisticuffs in recent years. In February chairs were used as weapons in the Turkish General National Assembly.
In January, Nepal’s parliament in Kathmandu descended into chaos as opposition MPs attacked the parliamentary speaker – trying to block government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution.
In January 2014, opposition MPs stormed government benches after speaker, Laura Boldrini, cuts short debate on measure to boost commercial banks
Closer to home, in Kenya, lawmakers came to blows after a parliamentary session which approved changes to a new security bill. The chaos even left the interpreter speechless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSy286oLXuY
And in 2013, KT24 reported that MPs nearly came to blows following an amendment to re-allocate 53 billion shillings set aside for a laptops for teachers.
AK-47 anyone?
Chaos ensued in Jordan’s parliament in 2013, after an MP fired AK-47 at colleague.
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