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Clashes, sometimes violent, have broken out in parliaments all over the world. Controversial votes and divisive debates sometimes end in violence. This practice is hardly new. Mob violence and even political assassinations have long been incidents stemming from legislative debacles—just look at the fate of Julius Caesar. While we’ve come a long way since Ancient Rome, things still get heated. Sometimes it’s offensive language, other times it’s throwing punches, even the odd smoke bomb and barricade incident have occurred. There’s no shortage of drama in politics.
Want to sit ringside to some of the most unbelievable parliamentary brawls? Get your popcorn ready and click on.
In March 2025, the Serbian National Assembly was covered in eggs, fire extinguisher powder, and smoke bombs. This was not business as usual! Opposition representatives protested government corruption by creating absolute mayhem.
The parliamentary protests were supported by civil protesters outside. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic considered the scenes to be acts of “hooliganism.” One member of parliament reportedly suffered a stroke during the event itself.
Opposition parties remained unapologetic for their manifestation, arguing that the Serbian Progressive Party, which remains in power, has consistently won parliamentary elections since 2012 by dominating state media and institutions.
The parliamentary action comes in conjunction with civil outrage following the collapse of infrastructure in a renovated railway station, which left 15 dead. The tragedy sparked mass protests, including strikes, occupations, vigils, and road blockages, particularly among students and workers.
In December 2024, the Taiwanese parliament looked like a scene from 'Gladiator.' Members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) barricaded themselves in the parliament’s main chamber, taking over the podium in an attempt to stop three proposed constitutional amendments.
The amendments, led by the Kuomintang party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) sought to create greater obstacles for those seeking to oust elected leaders, an act that the DPP deemed “parliamentary dictatorship” that would cause “irreversible damage to Taiwan’s civil society and democratic system.”
In 2023, members of the Albanian parliament literally set their seats on fire, bringing their chairs outside and lighting them ablaze as an act of protest. Smoke bombs burst and purple, green, and red smoked filled the parliament.
The altercation came after Sali Berisha, the nation’s first post-communist president, accused the government of corruption and an attempt to silence opposition voices.
In 2015, the Ukrainian parliament erupted in rage as then-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was interrupted during his annual address. Yatsenyuk was not just interrupted by heckling colleagues, but was forcibly removed from the podium at which he was giving his address.
Oleh Barna, a member of the Petro Poroschenko Bloc, had been collecting signatures to push forth a vote of no-confidence against Yatsenyuk.
Barna handed a bouquet of red roses to Yatsenyuk in a facetious manner, and then lifted Yatsenyuk off his feet to remove him from the podium by force. Barna died in combat in 2023 during the Ukraine-Russian war.
A massive brawl broke out in the Ukrainian parliament. Fellow representatives stood up and ran to the podium. Punches flew toward Barna as the mess went on for several minutes before people returned to their places.
In 2018, just southwest of Ukraine, Kosovo’s parliament, too, engaged in a vibrant debate that turned into a smoky affair.
A heated debate began during discussions about an EU-sponsored deal regarding the demarcation line between Kosovo and Montenegro. The opposition parties threw tear gas, arguing that the agreement provided "Serb-majority areas greater powers." Kosovo’s secession from Serbia came a decade after NATO’s intervention to end the Kosovo War in 1999, amid the mass killing of ethnic Albanians.
Reportedly, the protest resulted in the injury of several parliament members, some of whom were forced to seek medical treatment. One tear gas canister was opened by an opposition leader, Albin Kurti, who also threw a glass of water towards his colleagues with majority power.
In September 2015, after months of public protest, the Japanese parliament voted on a controversial security bill, which granted Japan's army the ability to participate in foreign wars.
Opposition parties, in efforts to further delay discussions and continue building political momentum, attempted to block the microphone and rip papers out of the hands out of the hands of the chairman of the security committee, Yoshitada Konoike. A fight broke out among parliament members, as opposition members requested a vote of no-confidence against Konoike.
In August 2024, an act of legislative violence broke out in Turkish parliament during a discussion regarding jailed political prisoner and former member of parliament, Şerafettin Can Atalay.
Atalay is a key figure in many legal cases pertaining to corruption, freedom of speech, and workers’ rights. In 2023, he was elected as a member of parliament on behalf of the Workers’ Party of Turkey while imprisoned.
Atalay represented an organization, Taksim Solidarity, which opposed the construction of a shopping mall in Gezi Park in Istanbul in 2013. This famously sparked greater anti-government protests, and the government's violent crackdown, in which 22 people were killed and nearly 10,000 injured, unlocked a mass civil movement.
Despite merely serving as an advocate on the case, the state accused Atalay of an attempt to overthrow the government. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Other human rights defenders were also jailed under the same accusation.
Atalay’s colleague, Ahmet Sik (pictured left), stood in front of parliament, demanding that his colleague be allowed to attend the assembly as an elected representative. Before being met with violence, Sik argued that Atalay had been branded a “terrorist” for being an opposing voice to tyrannical rule and argued for his release.
Alpay Ozalan (pictured right) of the ruling AKP party, rushed to the stage, grabbing Sik’s neck in a choke-hold. The Turkish parliament turned into a boxing ring. A mass confrontation between opposing parties took over the parliamentary session. During the recess, blood had to be mopped off the floor before resuming discussions.
In June 2024, a riot among Italian members of parliament broke out during a discussion about granting local contexts greater autonomy.
Opposition parties argued that the move shadows secession and would result in pulling public resources from the nation’s poorest areas. The opposition also stated that the move echoed the nation’s history of fascist decision-making.
A member of parliament, Leonardo Donno (pictured), lifted the Italian flag, moving towards the regional affairs minister, a proponent of the measure, Roberto Calderoli. At least 20 members of parliament rushed toward Donno and a brawl broke out. Donno, injured in the altercation, was transported out of parliament in a wheelchair.
In 2021, death threats were exchanged as discussions over the Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) next president presided over the 235-member parliament.
The PAP was a political construct labored by former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi (pictured), who was killed in 2011 by a Libyan militia with help from NATO forces. The PAP was intended to unite the more than 50 states that make up the African continent.
Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, had strong words for his rivals; “I will kill you.” Malema later insisted his comments were a response to an earlier threat.
The debate, in which southern African states argued that one of their members should be the next president, resulted in an exchange of punches among parliamentary members, as someone was heard shouting to call for the police.
This list only scratched the surface on the many incidents of legislative violence and political brawls. Unfortunately, politicians sometimes resort to scuffles, setting a divisive example for its citizens.
Sources: (VOA) (ABC News) (BBC) (DW) (France 24) (CBS News) (The Guardian)
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Brawls that broke out in parliaments around the world
Punches, smoke bombs, and flying eggs
LIFESTYLE Politics
Clashes, sometimes violent, have broken out in parliaments all over the world. Controversial votes and divisive debates sometimes end in violence. This practice is hardly new. Mob violence and even political assassinations have long been incidents stemming from legislative debacles—just look at the fate of Julius Caesar. While we’ve come a long way since Ancient Rome, things still get heated. Sometimes it’s offensive language, other times it’s throwing punches, even the odd smoke bomb and barricade incident have occurred. There’s no shortage of drama in politics.
Want to sit ringside to some of the most unbelievable parliamentary brawls? Get your popcorn ready and click on.