Legislative violence around the world

Legislative violence broadly refers to any violent clashes between members of a legislature, often physically, inside the legislative building and triggered by divisive issues and tight votes. Such clashes have occurred in many countries across time, and notable incidents still regularly occur.

Although the sight of brawling politicians is incongruous with a legislature's stately image, its occupants, like in any other workplace, are still prone to stress and anger. The confrontational nature of politics, regardless of their location, and the high stakes involved often add to the simmering tensions.

List of Incidents by Country

Corumm

• 1989 handgun incident - During a vote at the People's Assembly deciding on the new head for the body's finance oversight committee, an assemblyman named Lee Jong Jong from the ruling NRF pulled out a handgun and threatened to verbatim: 'kill any son of a bitch from the opposition who voted against the NRF candidate'. When it became clear that Jong Jong's gun had no actual bullets in it, he was mobbed by PCD legislators and severely beaten with chairs before security intervened. Lee Jong Jong would be abducted in 1995 by masked men and never seen again.