Taiwan lawmakers brawl over bills that would 'damage democracy'

Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party and opposition party Kuomintang brawled at the Legislative Yuan on Dec 20. - AFP

TAIPEI: Taiwanese lawmakers tackled and doused each other with water on Friday (Dec 20) as President Lai Ching-te's party tried to block the passage of bills they say could harm the self-ruled island's "democratic system".

Scores of lawmakers from Lai's Democratic Progressive Party had occupied the podium of the parliament's main chamber since Thursday night and barricaded themselves inside -- piling up chairs to block entrances.