Bullfighting ban quashed
Spanish constitutional court annuls prohibition of bullfighting in Catalonia, resolving that the State must protect it as a “shared” cultural heritage
The Spanish constitutional court (TC) decided yesterday to annul the law prohibiting bullfighting approved by the Catalan Parliament over six years ago and which formally came into force in January 2012. In another of a long line of decisions that clash with Catalan legislation, the judicial institution annulled the first article of law 28/2010 regarding the protection of animals on the grounds that it “invades or undermines” the State's responsibilities in relation to the protection of cultural heritage. The veto on bullfights is therefore lifted and a series of questions are raised that the Catalan institutions yesterday said they wanted resolved immediately, as the ruling will have no effect.
The court was blunt in its summation, however: the Catalan Parliament has the authority to interpret the wishes and opinions of society when legislating on matters regarding public performances, but under no circumstances may it “impede or disrupt” State powers in this sphere, considering that in this case it is preventing “this cultural tradition from being preserved.”
In fact, the TC believes the Catalan Parliament's role to be limited to ensuring that traditions such as bullfighting “are complemented or enriched by [Catalonia's] own traditions and cultures.”
It later emerged that three members of the judicial body were unwilling to cast their vote. Court sources revealed that these members of the court disagreed with the majority decision as they considered that Catalan powers relating to animal protection and the promotion of cultural values had “not been awarded enough consideration” in the decision.