KABUL, Afghanistan — Fistfights broke out and furniture was smashed in Afghanistan’s Parliament on Wednesday as disagreement about who should lead the country’s new lower house dragged into its second month.

The crisis in Parliament, some of which has been televised, has often broken into violence and has become the most vivid manifestation of Afghanistan’s political fragility as the United States pushes the Taliban to sit down with the government in the hopes of securing a deal to end the country’s long war.

It also comes as President Ashraf Ghani’s term in office has expired, with opposition leaders questioning his legitimacy to continue as leader. He remains in office based on an extension granted by the Supreme Court until a delayed presidential election is held in September.

The latest episode of parliamentary violence erupted when supporters of one lawmaker, Mir Rahman Rahmani, tried to forcibly seat him at the speaker’s desk over the protests of his rival, Kamal Naser Osuli.