Lawmakers in Catalonia will vote on a bullfighting ban this week. The vote on Wednesday comes after animal rights activists collected 180,000 signatures on a petition calling for the assembly to decide on a motion on the ban.

Various indications suggest that a majority of the 135 regional lawmakers are in favour of the motion. If approved, the region of Catalunya would be the first region outside of the Canary Islands in Spain to ban bullfighting. The Canary Islands passed a ban in 1991.

The motion has sparked controversy throughout Spain with many suggesting that the Catalans are merely on a rampage to ban everything that is Spanish, in order to promote their own identity. Despite the allegations, the Catalan public works minister and regional government spokesman, Joaquim Nadal, stated that the issue would not be used as “an element of confrontation” between Catalunya and the rest of Spain.

Bullfighting also has its history from the dictatorship, when General Francisco Franco promoted bullfighting as a unifying national spectacle.

Bullfighting opponents believe that the “sport” creates needless animal suffering and is reprehensible, and outdated.

The Symbolic Meaning of the Bull

Since thousands of years the symbol of a bull stood for fertility, sovereignty, pride, manhood and potency. Killing a bull in such a humiliating way would suggest a dark shadow exists in the collective psyche of the Spanish folk. Will this anti-bullfighting campaign mark the beginning of a new enlightenment?

Anti-bullfighting Campaign Wants to Take on Spain

The animal rights group Prou! has said that if successful in Catalonia, it will take its campaign to end bullfighting to other regions in Spain.

Photo credits.

Related news articles:

1. Catalonia Bans Bullfighting “Tradition”
2. Legislation to ban bullfighting passed in Catalonia
3. Catalan “referendum” for independence sees 30 percent turnout
4. Assistance for Expats in Spain to vote in UK elections
5. New airport set up in Catalunya