Divided vote in parliament could ban 'correbous' bull-related events in Catalonia

A majority of MPs in parliament have allowed the processing of a law to go ahead which could see bull-related events banned in Catalonia. 

MPs from CUP, En Comú Podem, and some of ERC and Junts, who had the freedom to vote, have allowed the processing of the law to continue.

Vox and PP had presented amendments to the entirety of the motion, but both failed after receiving only the support of Ciudadanos.

As such, the chamber has given the green light to debate the 'correbous' bull-related events thanks to the proposed law promoted by the En Comú Podem and CUP.

Both CUP, the far-left pro-independence party, and En Comú Podem, the left-wing group not aligned on the independence question, highlighted "the negative impact" that bullfighting festivals and other bull-related events have on animals.

There are also more and more people in Catalonia who do not want these events to go ahead at all, lawmakers from both parties commented.

CUP MP Dani Cornellà argued that "a society cannot base popular festivals on the suffering of animals" and made the point that "there are festivals that have disappeared that would now seem intolerable to us."

He highlighted the need to push ahead with the proposed law to make Catalonia "a leader in the defense of animal rights."

In the same vein, En Comú Podem leader Jèssica Albiach said that Catalonia should be "at the forefront" of animal protection.

If it were up to her party, all live shows involving animals would be banned entirely, Albiach warned, before acknowledging the need to first gather democratic majorities to make it possible. 

ERC and Junts, divided votes

Pro-independence parties Esquerra Republicana and Junts per Catalunya both let their MPs vote as they pleased, rather than in bloc. 

Bull-related events are popular in the southernmost point of Catalonia, bordering Valencia, and both parties insisted on taking into account the voice of the Terres de l'Ebre during the debate.

ERC's Juli Fernández said his party wants to advance the protection of animals, and assured that "with the progress we have made and that we will certainly make, no one in the Terres de l'Ebre feels that they have less culture."

Junts MP Esther Vallès called for a "constructive debate" to what is a "very controversial" topic. She highlighted that the "path" society is following in the remit of animal rights "goes along the lines of respect for nature and living beings." 

Sources from Junts say the party will let their MPS "express themselves freely when the final vote on the law takes place in Parliament." The same sources add that it is a "complex debate" and there are "multiple opinions in the territory."

Socialists abstain

The Socialists abstained on the vote en bloc. MP Joaquim Paladella asked for a "respectful" debate "without disqualifications to reach agreements."

He said that his party "have always defended animal welfare, at the same time that we defend popular culture and the diversity of the Catalan territories." 

Meanwhile, Vox's Alberto Tarradas called the proposed law "yet another attack by the left against the rural world, culture and indigenous tradition."

Lorena Roldán of the People's Party said the proposition does not take into account "the opinion of the territory, nor the sentiment, nor the root" of the tradition.

Ciudadanos' Matías Alonso regretted that ERC, Junts, and the Socialists "say one thing [in the Terres de l'Ebre] and another thing in Barcelona."