Lawmakers in Mexico City were caught on camera in a physical altercation on the floor of Congress on Monday, with the scene quickly going viral. The footage shows women from rival political parties shoving each other and pulling hair at the chamber's podium as colleagues attempted to intervene.
The brawl broke out during a heated debate regarding reforms to Mexico City's transparency oversight agency. Members of the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN) had taken the podium in protest against the actions of the controlling left-leaning Morena Party. The situation escalated into a physical scuffle when Morena members attempted to remove the PAN representatives from the front of the room.
Following the incident, both parties issued statements condemning the violence while simultaneously accusing the other side of instigating the conflict. PAN aide Andres Atayde defended his party’s actions during a press conference, claiming that they had occupied the podium peacefully and were met with aggression from the majority group. PAN lawmaker Daniela Alvarez further criticized the governing party, describing the behavior as "vulgar" and "lamentable."
Conversely, Morena spokesman Paulo Garcia blamed the opposition for the breakdown in order. In an interview with Mexican media, Garcia argued that the opposition is systematically resorting to violence because they lack the ability to win through debate.
The incident reflects the deep political polarization in Mexico City as the two parties continue to clash over legislative control and transparency measures.