Spain has canceled its annual bullfighting award, which has drawn criticism from conservative politicians who see it as a departure from a centuries-old tradition, while opponents describe it as "animal torture." Spanish-style bullfighting, which typically ends with the animal being killed by a sword thrust from the matador, is considered a cultural tradition by its supporters, whereas opponents label it as a cruel practice with no place in modern society.
The Ministry of Culture stated that its decision to abolish the award was based on the "new social and cultural reality in Spain," as concerns about animal welfare have increased and attendance at most bullfighting arenas has declined. Culture Minister Ernest Ortason wrote on the platform X that "there is a sentiment among the majority of Spaniards that they do not understand the reasons for animal torture in the country, let alone funding this torture with public money."
The national award was a government check worth €30,000 ($32,217) and was given to famous bullfighters like Julián López or to cultural associations linked to bullfighting traditions. Recently, bullfighting has become a critical issue in cultural conflicts as leftist parties, such as Sumar, to which Minister Ortason belongs, grapple with right-wing conservatives who support the tradition.
Borja Sémper, spokesman for the opposition People's Party, told reporters that the government's move demonstrated it "does not believe in cultural diversity or freedom," and that his party would restore the award if they regained power. Jorge Azcón, leader of the People's Party in the Aragon region, stated that the party intends to introduce another award, commenting: "Traditions should be something that unites us rather than divides us."
Opposition to bullfighting has also grown in Latin America, where the tradition transferred in the 16th century before spreading to southern France in the 19th century. In Spain, most bullfighting fans are older, and the number of bullfighting festivals has decreased by a third between 2010 and 2023.
