BARCELONA – The debate over bullfighting has been reignited in Spain after the government recognised the spectacle as “an artistic discipline and cultural product”, delighting enthusiasts but outraging animal rights campaigners.
Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's socialist government announced that the ministry of culture would
from now on be responsible for the "development and protection" of bullfighting, which previously fell within the remit of the interior ministry.
The move follows pressure from bullfighting organisations keen to protect their livelihood following a controversial vote to ban bullfighting in the Catalonia region last year.
Supporters, who see bullfighting as an integral part of Spain’s cultural identity, hope the announcement is a step towards protecting the tradition from further regional bans.