Bengi Yildiz (L), a parliamentarian from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), reacts as he scuffles with some members of parliament during a debate at parliament in Ankara late April 20, 2010. The parliament in Turkey began debating changes to the constitution on MondayReuters
Bengi Yildiz (L), a parliamentarian from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), reacts as he scuffles with some members of parliament during a debate at parliament in Ankara late April 20, 2010. The parliament in Turkey began debating changes to the constitution on MondayReutersDeputies scuffle during the opening session in the chamber of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev September 7, 2010.ReutersMembers of the groups Northern League and Futura e Liberta (FLI) argue in the parliament in Rome December 14, 2010. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi won a confidence motion in the Senate as expected on Tuesday, ahead of a lower house vote that could force him to resign or leave him clinging on to a wafer-thin majorityReutersMembers of the ruling Grand National Party (L) scuffle with members of the main opposition Democratic Party who were blocking entry into the main conference hall of parliament, in Seoul December 8, 2010. The two sides collided Tuesday night over next year's budget plan.ReutersBolivian opposition congressman Fernando Rodriguez battles with an unidentified indigenous deputy of President Evo Morales' party during a congress session in La Paz, April 9, 2009. Morales went on a hunger strike on Thursday to demand Bolivia's Congress pass an electoral law that could make it easier for him to win control of the legislature in December's general election.ReutersLawmakers from opposition parties remove a Uri Party lawmaker (C), who backs President Roh Moo-hyun, from speaker's seat in parliament in Seoul March 12, 2004. South Korea's opposition-dominated parliament passed an unprecedented bill on Friday to impeach President Roh for violating election laws. Parliamentary officials said at a rowdy televised session 193 members of the 273-seat National Assembly had voted for the bill to remove the 57-year-old former human rights lawyer from office, more than the two-thirds majority of 181 occupied seats required.ReutersClaudio Barbato (L), a member of the opposition FLI party, fights with Fabio Ranieri (R) from the Northern League in Parliament in Rome October 26, 2011. The Italian deputies exchanged blows in parliament on Wednesday as tensions over a tough economic reform programme came to a headReutersOpposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Kuo Wen-chen falls off the podium while scuffling with ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei July 8, 2010. Taiwan legislators threw objects, splashed water and kicked one another on Thursday, sending two to the hospital in a brawl over how fast to ratify a trade pact with China that is shaping up as a pivotal election issue.ReutersVice speaker of the Ukrainian Vekhovnaya Rada Martynyuk scuffles with deputy Lyashko during a session in the chamber of the Ukrainian parliament in KievReutersTurkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Idris Sami Tandogdu (R) and an unidentified CHP MP (rear R) hit Turkey's ruling Ak Party MP Alim Tunc (2nd L) as others try to stop the fight during a debate in the Turkish parliament in Ankara May 28, 2007. Turkish parliament convene to debate the constitutional amendment package regarding general and presidential elections. TReuters
Italy's lower house of parliament was briefly suspended Wednesday after a brawl broke out among lawmakers debating proposed pension reforms. At least two lawmakers from the Northern League, the main coalition partner in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, exchanged blows with members of the opposition FLI party.
Indeed, around the world heated parliamentary debates have, on occasion, turned violent.
The IBTimes counts down the most dramatic political punch-ups of recent years.
