10 Politician FIGHTS Caught On Camera

10 Times Politicians FOUGHT Caught on Camera

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most notable incidents from around the world where politicians have resorted to violence, often within the parliament, to resolve their differences.

Mass Brawl in Turkish Parliament

Political disagreements between parliamentary members are common around the world. But in 2016, Turkish lawmakers decided to work out their differences with their fists and legs. The dispute revolved around changes to the constitution that could strip lawmakers of their immunity from prosecution while in office. This proposal was backed by the ruling AK Party and was believed to be targeted at members of the pro-Kurdish opposition party, HDP. The dispute quickly turned physical, with politicians in suits and ties leaping over desks to launch blows at their opponents. In the end, multiple MPs reportedly sustained injuries, and we’re pretty sure the conflict did not lead to any resolution.

Fight Breaks Out in Georgian Parliament

Sometimes, political tensions from one country can spill over into another, resulting in conflict there. That was the case in December 2013 when lawmakers in Georgia came to blows over Ukraine’s integration into the EU. The catalyst for this clash came when Giorgi Baramidze, a member of the Georgian opposition party National Movement, called on his fellow lawmakers to support Ukraine. Their response was anything but diplomatic. MPs threw documents in the air and resorted to exchanging kicks and punches. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured - just a few bruised egos and, perhaps, a lesson or two in parliamentary etiquette.

Hong Kong Lawmakers Duke It Out

The 2019 Hong Kong protests initially erupted in response to a proposed extradition bill in the country’s parliament. This amendment sought to make it easier for criminal suspects to be extradited to China, which would’ve further increased China’s influence over Hong Kong. But just as the protests on the streets escalated into violence, so did the parliamentary debates. Pro-democracy blocs physically clashed with their pro-establishment counterparts, resulting in chaotic scenes of pulling, tugging and piling on top of each other. One lawmaker fell flat on his face, and had to be evacuated on a stretcher. At least, this saga saw a resolution of sorts, as the extradition bill was later withdrawn from parliamentary discussion.

Congo’s Parliament Descends Into Chaos

Chairs, buckets, batons… these were some of the everyday items lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo turned into weapons after a parliamentary brawl erupted in December 2020. Tensions arose when President Félix Tshisekedi sought to dissolve his alliance with former President Joseph Kabila, whose coalition controlled the parliament. Lawmakers loyal to Kabila disagreed with this move and decided to express their dissent in the loudest way possible. They tore apart the parliament, and hurled buckets and chairs at each other. One man was struck so badly, he suffered severe injuries and bled profusely. If this was the only way to resolve conflicts, we doubt these lawmakers would be getting any legislative work done.

Water & Fist Fights in Kosovo’s Parliament

It all began with a picture depicting Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti as Pinocchio. In July 2023, while Kurti was addressing parliament, a lawmaker walked up to the stage and placed the picture on the podium. Shortly after the deputy prime minister tore it up, another lawmaker approached Kurti with a bottle of water and splashed it all over him. This sparked a physical altercation that quickly escalated into a free-for-all. Grown men and women set just the perfect example for their kids, as they descended into fistfights on the parliament floor. The brawl served as the tipping point of a heated debate that had persisted over Kurti’s handling of tensions in Kosovo’s northern region.

The Prescott Punch

Not all political fights unfold within the parliament, or even solely between politicians. Back in 2001, then British deputy prime minister, John Prescott, faced an unexpected confrontation on his way to an election rally in Rhyl, North Wales. A protester, identified as Craig Evans, threw an egg at Prescott, which struck him in the face. Without even thinking, Prescott responded with a left-handed jab, sparking a brief scuffle between the two. Evans wrestled Prescott against a small wall, before police officers and bystanders intervened, and led the politician away. While the struggle may have been undignifying for a man of his status, Prescott refused to apologize and, surprisingly, gained public approval for his reaction.

Japan’s Parliament Brawls Over Pacifism

Since World War II, Japan has maintained a largely pacifist stance, deploying its military purely for self-defense purposes. In 2015, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed a controversial bill that would allow Japanese forces to assist in defending its allies, even if the country faced no direct attack. While debating the bill in a parliamentary session, Japanese lawmakers, in their oh-so pacifist nature, leapt over their desks and scrambled on top of each other, in a bid to prevent the vote from proceeding. Unsurprisingly, the scuffle did nothing to hinder the bill’s progress. Didn’t anyone remind these lawmakers that there should be no fighting in the war room?

Punch-up in Venezuelan Parliament

The 2013 presidential election in Venezuela concluded with Nicolás Maduro winning by a very slim margin. Lawmakers from the opposition party considered the contest fraudulent and refused to recognize Maduro as president. In response, the ruling majority proposed a measure to block opposition members from speaking in the parliament until they acknowledged the election outcome. Naturally, this didn’t go down well with the affected lawmakers. While protesting the measure, the politicians devolved into a violent clash on the floor, with at least one lawmaker sustaining bruises to his face. Just like two kids fighting on the playground, neither side admitted responsibility, instead blaming each other for the incident.

Ukraine’s Bouquet of Scuffles

While delivering his annual address before parliament in December 2015, then Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk received a pleasant surprise. One of the MPs, Oleh Barna, walked up to the podium and handed him a bouquet of roses. But before Yatsenyuk could process his unusual gift, Barna delivered yet another unexpected move. He grabbed the prime minister from behind and physically removed him from the podium. Barna was quickly restrained by another individual, but the chaos didn’t stop there. Soon, a mob of other lawmakers joined the fray, turning the once ambient session into a cacophony of shouts and mayhem. Who said politics can’t be a spectator sport?

Taiwanese Lawmakers Face Off... Again

Violent brawls seem to be a part of the job for lawmakers in Taiwan. On numerous occasions, MPs in the East Asian country have made headlines for physical altercations within the parliamentary chambers. But perhaps none was quite as controversial as this July 2017 clash. While debating budget proposals for an infrastructure development plan, lawmakers from opposing parties attacked each other with everything at their disposal. Their fists, legs, chairs and even water balloons. Amidst the chaos, a whistle can be heard, seemingly attempting to restore order, but the politicians paid no heed and proceeded with their skirmishes. If the Taiwanese people ever wondered if their lawmakers were fighting for them, they probably have their answer.

Which of these political fights stunned you the most? Let us know in the comments below.