Under my administration, there will be no public money for organizing bull running events, announced Spanish Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun. The bullfight is protected at the national level under the provisions of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, but – as Urtasun pointed out – among Spaniards there is “growing concern about issues related to animal abuse.”
– When it comes to the running of the bulls, I have been clear. Under my administration, there will be neither prizes nor public money for bull running, announced the Minister of Culture on Thursday Spain Ernest Urtasun in an interview for the Spanish television La Sexta.
According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Culture, attendance at bullfights has not decreased over the last decade. Urtasun emphasizes, however, that in Spanish society there is “growing concern about issues related to animal abuse.”
The politician also recalled that the corrida is protected at the national level by the provisions of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act adopted by the Spanish Parliament in 2013. The introduction of this protection was a response to growing protests and attempts to limit the running of the bulls, which are still considered the national pastime of the inhabitants of Spain.
The annual running of the bulls in Pamplona is ending. There is no shortage of voices to end this tradition once and for allPaweł Abramowicz/Fakty TVN
Bans on organizing bullfights
Despite this, many communes have introduced restrictions or bans on organizing bullfights. At the level of autonomous communities, the first to introduce a ban on bull running was the Canary Islands as part of the Animal Protection Act adopted in 1991.
In 2020, the government in Madrid nominated the corrida for inclusion on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but the proposal was not considered by UNESCO.
On average, approximately six million people watch the running of the bulls in Spain each year, and the bullfight contributes to the country's economy with revenues exceeding EUR 3.5 billion. The largest corrida arena, Las Ventas, is located in Madrid and can accommodate almost 24,000 spectators.
People and animals die every year during the running of the bulls.
Main photo source: JESUS ​​DIGES/EPA/PAP