Foreign Filibusters

Lengthy filibusters are most common in the U.S., with none more famous than Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour stand against civil rights legislation in 1957. But the tactic of speechifying to block a bill’s passage is also used around the world. On Feb. 23, South Korean lawmakers broke records attempting to block legislation. Here’s more on that and other lengthy filibusters.

192 Hours

South Korea

The eight-day attempt to block an antiterrorism bill saw 39 lawmakers, including Lee Jong-kul, launch speeches. Before the filibuster’s comeback in 2012, legislators would wrest control of the chamber through violent shoving and stacking furniture.

58 Hours

Canada

This marathon filibuster in 2011 was a team affair, with 103 lawmakers making back-to-back 20-minute speeches to halt a bill on union contracts. Stalling tactics aren’t rare in Canada: Ontario lawmakers delayed a bill for 10 days in 1997 by adding 11,000 amendments.

48 Hours

Austria

The country’s Social Democrats launched a series of speeches in 1925 in opposition to a former Finance Minister’s becoming chairman of a committee. One lawmaker named Witternigg prolonged his monologue over two entire days by uttering two words every minute.