Anti-bullfighting wave sweeps Spain

EVEN though contracts to celebrate bullfights or festivities involving bulls were signed before the elections, a number of new political forces in control of town halls have cancelled many of them across several towns.
It has happened in A Coruña (Galicia), Gandia and Alziria (Valencia), Mancor de la Vall (Mallorca) and Pinto (Madrid). In cities such as Huesca or Alicante, the local government has considered this measure but is expected to implement it next year, by calling for a referendum amongst its inhabitants beforehand. In addition, the new Mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena has promised not to use “a single euro” for bullfighting and other related events.
The bull-fighting sector is witnessing these events with concern, alleging that they are still in the minority. However, the sector also has reasons to celebrate, as it is expected that more than 16,000 festivities involving bulls will be celebrated in Spain this year, 16.5 per cent more than last year.
Galicia Council decided last week to cancel the Bull-Fighting Fair. Mayor of the city Xulio Ferreiro promised during the electoral campaign to “not fund any bull-fighting events or other events where animal violence is featured.”
Surprisingly, in the face of this new anti-bullfighting wave, Mayor of Benifaro de les Valls, Toni Sanfrancisco (PSOE), decided to do the complete opposite and created a Bull-fighting Department within the Council, exclusively devoted to managing and creating events related to them.