In the wake of a physical altercation among Mexican legislators this week, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has characterized his nation’s parliament as comparatively “well-behaved.” The Mexican incident erupted during Monday’s congressional session when opposition lawmakers stormed the podium during debates concerning reforms to Mexico City’s transparency oversight agency. Video documentation revealed female legislators engaging in shoving matches and hair-pulling confrontations.
The ruling Morena party defended the proposed reforms as essential operational streamlining measures, while opposition members accused the governing party of procedural violations. This international episode prompted Prime Minister Briceño to reflect on parliamentary conduct within Belize’s own legislative chambers.
Briceño acknowledged that while Belizean lawmakers occasionally engage in heated verbal exchanges, physical altercations remain outside the realm of acceptable conduct. “It goes to show you how well behaved we are,” stated Briceño, referencing not only the Mexican incident but similar legislative conflicts across Asia and Canada, noting such occurrences happen “all the time” in Central America.
The Prime Minister emphasized that despite occasional vigorous debates, Belizean parliamentarians maintain collegial relationships beyond their legislative duties. “We could argue with one another in the house, but when the thing [is] done, we are hugging one another,” Briceño remarked, highlighting the absence of physical confrontations in Belize’s political culture as a point of national distinction.