Catalonia Bans Bullfighting

Catalonia have gone and done it again – upset Madrid that is – although the bulls won't be complaining.  Legislators in the autonomous Spanish region of Catalonia voted by 68 votes to 55 to bid adios to bullfighting. Or, since they;'re Catalan, maybe they'd say adéu.  The ban – the first in mainland Spain – will come into effect in 2012.

The vote arrives just a few weeks after Spain won the World Cup in South Africa, a victory which some commentators believed would help ease friction's between Madrid and Barcelona.

However, with most Spaniards, including Catalonians, considering bullfighting to be a part of their heritage, the vote has ignited a fierce debate which could backfire on Catalonian nationalists as it may highlight more similarities between the various Iberian tribes than differences.

Wednesday's plebiscite is being opposed by Spain's largest centre-right Popular Party. They oppose the ban on political, cultural and economic grounds and claim that the ban is a nationalistic assault from Catalonia which will lead to a profound national crisis in Spain.

However, a lawmaker in Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, says that their objective, which is fully backed by Animal Welfare activists, is to eliminate the torture and suffering of animals.

"This is not an attack against Spain," he said – before proceeding to equate some Spanish values with backwardness by proxy – "Catalans, support and share advanced values with the rest of Europe. We can be proud to have demonstrated today that Catalonia has a more dignified and respectful society that believes in eliminating the torture and suffering of animals.”

Meanwhile,, supporters of bullfighting are warning that they will take legal action against a ban that they claim would breach basic rights — including the right to work — enshrined in the Spanish Constitution.  They also argued that the ban would be akin to prohibiting painting, since bullfighters regularly receive national arts awards.

Eulogised by Picasso, Goya, Hemingway and Myles Davis, bullfighting, described as a macabre, centuries-old ballet between matador and beast, an art form involving a fight to the death, is seen as an integral part of Spanish culture.

There is no doubt in my mind that Catalonia see this ban – and the ban is really only symbolic as there is only one fully functioning bullring in Barcelona – as another way of loosening the political grip of Madrid en route to greater autonomy and eventual independence.  It beats civil war I guess, although they've picked an explosive subject to advance their secessionist cause that's for sure.

Martin, who was born in Madrid, but who has been living in Limerick for the last three years, admitted that Spain's younger generation have difficulty defending bullfighting against claims that it is barbaric – but he can also see the "dark" hand of Catalan nationalism at work here.

"Some Catalans will use any tactic to distance themselves from Spain even though a lot of people living in Barcelona will be upset by this ban also." he said. It is difficult to argue against claims that bullfighting is cruel, but it is part our culture. It is difficult to explain unless you are from Spain. There was a time when it was just as popular as football. The crowds have dropped off in the last twenty years but bullfighting is still very popular in my country."

Meanwhile, won't it be almost ironic if the bull, so long the target of Matadors steely knives, has the last laugh as he watches Spain tear itself asunder in an increasingly polarised debates on national identity vis-a-vis corrida de toros?

Sketches of Spain indeed.