The Ministry of Culture Eliminates the National Prize of Bullfighting
The Ministry of Culture announced that the National Bullfighting Prize will not be awarded this year and that measures are being taken for its definitive elimination. The Minister Ernest Urtasun, an opponent of shows involving animal abuse, had already shown his discontent towards bullfighting by not selecting representatives of this sector for the Fine Arts medals. The decision generated criticism from the bullfighting sector, political parties such as PP and Vox, and some socialist barons, such as Emiliano García-Page.
Urtasun and Previous Controversies
Minister Ernest Urtasun had already been at the center of other controversies, such as when, upon taking office, he declared culture a "form of combat" against the ultra-right and suggested decolonizing Spanish museums. These positions were reflected in the electoral program of his party, Sumar, which seeks to limit the cultural and patrimonial protection of bullfighting, in addition to prohibiting the public financing of bullfighting shows where animals are killed.
The Ministry's Justification for Canceling the Award
The Ministry of Culture justified the cancellation of the National Bullfighting Award citing the growing concern for animal welfare. Ministerial sources pointed out that only 1.9% of Spaniards attended bullfighting shows between 2021 and 2022, a decrease of 5.9 points compared to 2019. In addition, the number of bullfighting events has fallen dramatically in recent years, and in some regions, such as the Canary Islands and Catalonia, bullfights are no longer held.
Upset Reactions and the Creation of Parallel Prizes
The decision of the Ministry caused discomfort in the bullfighting sector and in some regional administrations, which expressed their intention to create their own awards for bullfighting. Vitorino Martín, president of the Fighting Bull Foundation, called Urtasun's decision discriminatory on ideological grounds. Meanwhile, politicians such as Vicente Barrera, from Vox, and Emiliano García-Page, from the PSOE, announced the creation of alternative prizes in Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha, respectively.
Arguments for and Against Bullfighting
Some defenders of bullfighting, such as Mariano de Paco, Minister of Culture of the Community of Madrid, and Marta Rivera de la Cruz, delegate of Culture of the Madrid City Council, criticized the elimination of the prize, arguing that bullfighting is part of Spanish culture. Urtasun, on the other hand, pointed out that his decision was in line with the Animal Welfare Law and that the majority of society does not support animal abuse.
The National Bullfighting Prize and its History
The National Bullfighting Prize was created in 2011 during the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, although it was not awarded for the first time until 2013, when it was won by Paco Ojeda. The prize had an endowment of 30,000 euros, higher than other national prizes. Although the current legislation considers bullfighting part of the cultural heritage, the Ministry's measure reflects a change in social perception regarding animal abuse.