SPAIN TO SCRAP ITS NATIONAL BULLFIGHTING PRIZE OVER “ANIMAL TORTURE”

Sun 05 May 2024:

Spain’s national bullfighting prize will be discontinued due to declining popularity and concerns over animal welfare, announced the country’s culture minister on Friday.

Ernest Urtasun, Spain’s far-left Culture Minister, expressed that the decision stemmed from a recognition of widespread public concern for animal wellbeing. “We concluded that the majority of Spaniards are concerned about animal wellbeing. We don’t want to continue giving out a prize that awards animal abuse.” He emphasized that continuing to award a prize that celebrates animal abuse was untenable, especially given that government data indicated that less than 2% of Spaniards attended bullfighting events in 2022.

Established in 2013 by the Spanish government under conservative leader Mariano Rajoy, the national bullfighting prize not only conferred recognition but also included a €30,000 ($32,240) monetary award.

Urtasun underscored the inappropriateness of allocating public funds to support what he described as “animal torture,” particularly considering the dwindling attendance figures at bullfighting events across several Spanish regions. While regions like Catalonia and the Canary Islands have implemented bans on bullfighting in the past, though Catalonia’s was overturned in courts. The activity remains relatively popular in areas such as Valencia and Madrid.

In response to the discontinuation of the national prize, Emiliano Garcia-Page, the Socialist leader of Castille-La Mancha, where bullfighting enjoys popularity, announced plans to establish a regional bullfighting prize. Similarly, the Madrid region’s head of environment and agriculture, Carlos Novillo, announced the introduction of new regional awards, criticizing the central government for “attacking… and diluting the idea of Spain.

Despite its historical significance in Spanish culture, bullfighting has faced growing opposition in modern times. A 2020 poll revealed that a significant portion of Spaniards favored either the legal prohibition of bullfighting or expressed dislike for the practice, highlighting shifting attitudes towards this traditional form of entertainment.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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