Protection of bulls takes significant step forward in Catalonia

Although it was initially thought that the proposal would not get through the debate this week, the plenary session of the Catalan Parliament gave free rein to the processing of a bill to prohibit bulls tied up, roped and at sea, in so-called cultural events, by passing the debate on the entire proposal from En Comú Podem and the CUP.

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What wasn’t a surprise was that the PP and VOX opposed the motion, but they did not have enough support in the chamber. Although their proposal has been rejected, most groups have expressed their willingness to amend it and modify some aspects.

Now, the bill will continue the parliamentary process in committee. The text foresees, for reasons of “social awareness and in the light of science and ethics”, a decisive step towards animal protection by eliminating certain forms of ‘correbous’ that generate greater social rejection due to the negative impact on animals. For this reason, it is planned to eliminate bulls in roped bulls and bulls on the beach events, also known as bulls at sea, from the catalogue of modalities permitted in Catalonia.

Jessica Albiach, president of En Comú Podem in the Parliament of Catalonia, has been the deputy in charge of presenting the proposal. She defended that “if it were up to us, we would prohibit any show with live animals in our country,” but to achieve a proposal that had a chance of being approved, the claims had to be lowered. “Over time we will be able to gather the majorities necessary to achieve this,” she added. She also stressed in her speech that this bill is not against anyone, but in favour of animal welfare “and a better way to relate to environmental fear and animals.”

The representative of VOX, Alberto Tarradas, promoter of the amendment to the entirety, was the first to intervene. His position was based on the defence of bullfighting by his far-right formation and on repeating that Catalonia was a world benchmark day for bullfighting. “We defend the festivals with bulls and we will do so to the last consequences,” he said. “What some ‘gentlemen of little culture’ are doing today is imposing that we cannot celebrate our traditions as is the will of the people,” he added.

Then it was the turn of the PP representative from the Mixed Group, Lorena Roldán, who did not go down to the podium to make her defence, which was the briefest of all those this morning. He recalled the prohibition of bullfighting thirteen years ago and said that he could welcome improving the Regulation of Good Customs for popular celebrations with bulls, giving veterinarians more powers, but his party is categorically opposed to prohibiting any type of bullfighting.

Jessica Albiach took the floor again to remember that while in the “Community of Madrid and Andalusia the bull and roped bull have already been specifically prohibited for considering it animal abuse”, and both Autonomous Communities are governed by those who today propose the amendment to the entire bill.

On the part of the Socialist Party of Catalonia, represented by deputy David Pérez, openly announced that their members would opt for abstention. He focused his speech on the fact that the socialists’ position has always been against animal abuse and in favour of the protection of their well-being, but they are also great defenders of the traditions and identity marks of the people. In this contradiction, he expressed that “we must respect all sensitivities and we must be respectful of all arguments. We have to understand each other and agree after listening to each other.”

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