A chaotic fight broke out in the Taiwanese parliament during a debate on legislative reforms. Lawmakers engaged in physical altercations, including shoving, striking, and tackling each other, even climbing over tables to attack. More scuffles occurred throughout the day, as tensions remained high.
The cause of the brawl was the opposition party’s push for more oversight over the government. The new president, William Lai Ching-te, is set to be inaugurated, but his party lost seats, resulting in a minority government.
The KMT and TPP parties formed an alliance to bring criminal charges against officials for false statements to parliament. The DPP accused them of trying to rush through proposals without proper debate, while the opposition claimed the DPP was resistant to legislative oversight.
The chaotic scenes in parliament led to speculation that President Lai would face challenges in gaining support for his policies. Five legislators were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the brawl.
