Mexico ? Leftist and ruling party lawmakers came to blows in Congress on Tuesday amid preparations for the inauguration of President-elect Felipe Calderon, who named to his Cabinet a career ambassador and a governor tied to a violent crackdown on demonstrators.

Tuesday’s fight was likely a preview of protests to come as Calderon prepares to be sworn in Friday, taking charge of a fiercely divided nation after beating leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador by less than a percentage point.

The congressional chaos began after conservative legislators took over the podium, amid rumors that leftist lawmakers planned to seize Congress, as they did before President Vicente Fox’s Sept. 1 state-of-the-nation speech.

The leftists quickly followed, and scuffles broke out as Jorge Zermeno, the president of the lower house, called repeatedly for calm. He then suspended the session until Friday’s inauguration, but lawmakers from both parties remained in the chambers, refusing to leave. Party leaders were in talks to end the standoff.