A session of the Mexico City Congress turned into a scene of physical violence on Monday when women lawmakers from opposing political parties engaged in a shocking brawl broadcast live. The altercation involved hair-pulling, slapping, and punching, highlighting deep political tensions.
How the Political Debate Descended into Chaos
The incident erupted during a debate on reforming the city government's transparency oversight agency. Legislators from the right-wing National Action Party (PAN) moved towards the chamber's main podium. Their goal was to protest what they claimed was a procedural violation by the ruling leftist Morena party, which holds a majority in the legislature.
Video footage from the live broadcast shows the moment the protest turned physical. At least five lawmakers from both parties can be seen arguing intensely. The situation quickly escalated beyond shouting.
A Physical Struggle for the Podium
In an attempt to physically remove the PAN members from the podium, Morena lawmakers resorted to force. The video evidence clearly shows acts of elbowing, slapping, and lawmakers pulling each other's hair. The PAN legislators, for their part, refused to move from their position, leading to the sustained scuffle.
Andres Atayde, an aide for the PAN representatives, addressed the media after the incident. He stated, "We took the podium peacefully, without touching anyone, and the decision made by the majority legislative group and its allies was to try and regain control of the board through violence."
Recriminations and Walkout After the Fight
Following the altercation, the PAN lawmakers staged a walkout from the chamber. The Morena-led majority then continued the debate on the transparency agency in the absence of the opposition, as confirmed by posts on the Congress of Mexico City's official social media accounts.
Daniela Alvarez, one of the PAN lawmakers involved in approaching the podium, expressed her dismay to reporters. "Not only is it vulgar, not only is it aggressive, but it is lamentable that this is the majority governing party for this city," she said.
The Morena party, however, placed the blame squarely on the opposition. Paulo Garcia, a spokesman for Morena, told broadcaster Milenio, "What worries us a lot is how the opposition is systematically resorting to violence instead of arguments, in the absence of being able to debate."
This violent episode in the Mexico City Congress underscores the intense and often hostile political divisions within the legislature, moving beyond verbal sparring to physical confrontation.
