Activists Rally for Repeal of Bullfighting as Cultural Heritage in Spain
More than a hundred activists gathered in front of the steps of Congress in Spain this Monday, calling on lawmakers to approve the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) aimed at repealing the law that designates bullfighting as cultural heritage. This ILP is backed by an impressive 715,606 signatures, highlighting a wealth of public sentiment against this long-standing tradition. The promoting committee of the ILP, known as No Es Mi Cultura, submitted all signatures to the Electoral Census Office in Madrid for verification, a process that must be completed within six months before the initiative can be debated in Congress.
Activists from various animal welfare organizations rallied to advocate for a cultural shift towards life and away from cruelty, proclaiming, "enough of violence against animals." Marta Esteban, the spokesperson for the ILP promoting committee, emphasized that culture should be a choice, not an imposition. She urged all political parties, especially the Socialist Party (PSOE), to support the initiative during its forthcoming debate. Esteban highlighted the importance of recognizing individual rights and freedoms in this context, reminding that several members of the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right VOX party have shown sympathy for their cause.
The ILP seeks not to ban bullfighting outright, but to empower each autonomous community and municipality to make their own laws regarding the practice. Currently, the 2013 Law protects bullfighting to such an extent that local jurisdictions cannot legally prohibit it if they choose to. Esteban stressed the need for local communities to determine their own preferences regarding bullfighting, pointing to surveys suggesting that eight out of ten Spaniards reject the tradition.
The activists also called for the elimination of public subsidies that currently support organizations like Fundación Toro de Liria, arguing that these funds should be redirected towards health education and other non-cruel cultural alternatives. "No government that can call itself progressive should lag behind in this advance towards a freer, more ethical, and more compassionate society," Esteban insisted.
The rally drew support from various political figures, including deputies from parties such as Sumar, Podemos, and ERC, with notable participation from Juan López de Uralde, co-founder of the leftist green party Alianza Verde. Uralde underscored the urgency of processing the ILP before the end of the current legislature to avoid it being sidelined in Congress. Sumar deputy Nahuel González echoed the hope that the PSOE would align with the majority and support the ILP, stressing the importance of validating the initiative.
The absence of PSOE representatives at the rally raised eyebrows among activists, who called for the party to demonstrate courage by heeding the voice of the public, which, they assert, overwhelmingly favors a cultural shift away from bullfighting. ERC deputy Etna Estrems pointed out the discrepancy between the societal demand for change and the traditionalist commitments expressed by others, reinforcing the notion that it's time for Spain to embrace a more humane cultural identity.
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