Mexico lawmakers brawl in Congress over oversight agency abolition

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A legislative session in Mexico City descended into chaos on Monday as female lawmakers from rival parties engaged in a physical brawl over a controversial bill, marking one of the most violent incidents since the city's governance restructuring.

The clash erupted during a debate on a reform bill to abolish the transparency oversight body InfoCDMX and replace it with a new department. Opposition National Action Party (PAN) lawmakers stormed the podium in protest against the proposal by the ruling Morena party.

Video footage showed the confrontation quickly escalating from verbal arguments to physical violence. Two female legislators—Daniela Álvarez and Yuriri Ayala—grappled with each other, pulling arms and throwing punches.

More lawmakers joined the melee, with women seen pulling hair, elbowing abdomens and screaming. The sole male lawmaker present, Green Party member and parliamentary president Jesús Sesma, attempted to separate the brawlers but was largely unsuccessful.

At least one opposition lawmaker, Claudia Pérez from PAN, was injured. Later footage showed her wearing a neck brace.

Following the brawl, opposition lawmakers walked out in protest. The ruling Morena party subsequently passed the bill to dissolve the oversight agency without significant resistance.

Both parties condemned the violence while blaming each other. PAN spokesperson Andres Atayde said his party members had peacefully occupied the podium before being violently removed. Morena spokesperson Paulo Garcia countered that the opposition systematically resorted to violence instead of constructive debate when lacking arguments.

This is not the first violent incident in Mexican politics this year; a similar brawl occurred in the Senate in August over the issue of foreign armed forces deployment.