Parliament Erupts: Fistfight Over Controversial Autonomy Proposal

A fistfight broke out in Italy's lower house, sending an opposition lawmaker to the hospital. The clash was over a government proposal to expand regional autonomy, which opponents argue will worsen economic disparities between the north and south. The incident drew criticism from officials, calling for ideas, not violence, to resolve issues.

Tensions escalated in Italy's lower house as a fistfight sent an opposition lawmaker to the hospital over a controversial government proposal. Opponents argue the proposal will further impoverish the poor south.

Video footage showed lawmakers converging on 5-Star Movement's Leonardo Donno after he attempted to hand an Italian flag to regional affairs minister Roberto Calderoli. Calderoli, rooted in the northern Lega party, drafted the contentious regional autonomy expansion benefiting northern regions like Veneto and Lombardy.

Donno was taken to the hospital for evaluation after being hit in the head and chest. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed disappointment, emphasizing that political problems should be resolved through ideas, not violence. The proposal aims to give more regions expanded autonomy, a move critics say deepens Italy's north-south divide.

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