Taiwan MPs in brawl as parliament returns to fighting ways
It's been two years since Taiwan's MPs, notorious for their regular fights, swore to improve their reputation and stop getting into mass brawls in parliament. That resolution was going very well - until yesterday, when they decided to have a huge punch-up again.[/align]
More than 70 lawmakers battled each other in the parliament on Monday, with members of the anti-China opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wrestling and yanking the clothes of ruling nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) MPs.
The ruckus kicked off after DPP politicians commandeered the speaker's podium in an attempt to prevent the passage of legislation that would allow local officials to be appointed, rather than elected. It was the first bout of fisticuffs in the island nation's notoriously fighty seat of government since the KMT swept to power two years ago. The country's elected representatives had previously been infamous for their regular clashes, which would occasionally involve spraying water and throwing microphones. Three KMT legislators said they were hurt in the brouhaha.
'A violent conflict erupted in the process after the DPP had exhausted other means to stop the law,' the party said in a statement. Unfortunately for them, this means also proved ultimately ineffective, as the law passed once everybody stopped fighting.
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Any story which includes a brouhaha is worth reporting!
