Spain abolishes national prize for bullfighting
12-09-2024Good news from Spain! The Ministry of Culture has abolished the national prize for bullfighting. In addition, the Ministry of Culture conducted a public consultation on this bullfighting prize. This shows that 90 percent of Spaniards agree that the prize should no longer be awarded.
Spain abolishes national prize for bullfighting | Picture: CAS International/AnimaNaturalis
The end of this national prize for bullfighting reflects the opinion of the majority of the Spanish population. According to data from the Survey of Cultural Habits and Practices (conducted for the Ministry of Culture for the 2021-2022 period), only 1.9 % of the population attended bullfights and bull festivals in the past year. In addition, there has been a 4.7% year-on-year decline in the number of organized events involving bulls in Spain.
National prize for bullfighting
CAS International considers the abolition of the bullfighting prize by the Ministry of Culture an important step. Bullfighting does not fit into today’s Spanish society and rewarding bloody bullfights with a national prize sends the wrong signal. Estefania Pampin Zuidmeer, CAS International’s campaigner, grew up in Spain. About abolishing the prize, she says the following:
“30 years ago, it was unthinkable that the Ministry of Culture would criticize bullfighting or restrict it in any way. 30 years later, the bullrings are empty, and most Spaniards want a ban. Abolishing this prize for bullfighting is in line with the new path Spain is taking: a society with more room for empathy and respect for animals.”
Disinterest in bullfighting
And the disinterest in bullfighting is growing not only in Bilbao, but also in the rest of Spain. The number of bullfights decreased by 63 percent since 2007. According to recent surveys, more than 50 percent of Spaniards are in favor of banning or curbing bullfighting (SocioMétrica, 2019). In addition, a study by Fundación BBVA in 2022 found that 8 out of 10 Spaniards are against the use of animals for bullfighting. And a recent survey conducted by Ipsos I&O Public for CAS International shows that bullfighting is rejected in Spain, France and Portugal. 77% of respondents think that bullfighting causes too much suffering to animals and 58% think it should be banned.
#NoEsMiCultura
Spanish organizations have been collecting signatures for the citizens’ initiative #NoEsMiCultura since the beginning of this year. 500,000 signatures must be collected by February 2025 to remove the legal protection of bullfighting, by repealing Law 18/2013, which declares bullfighting Spain’s cultural heritage. This will restore regional and local governments’ own powers over culture and entertainment. CAS International supports the citizens’ initiative.
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