Spain's Left-Wing Government Abolishes National Bullfighting Prize

The left-wing government of Spain announced last week that it would abolish a national prize for bullfighting, a decision that has outraged supporters of the controversial spectacle but has been welcomed by animal rights groups. Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun stated, "A growing majority of Spaniards are concerned about animal welfare, so we don't believe it's appropriate to maintain a prize that rewards animal mistreatment."

In an interview with La Sexta TV, Ernest Urtasun added, "I think they understand even less that these forms of animal torture are rewarded with medals accompanied by cash prizes using public funds."

The annual prize, created in 2011 and first awarded in 2013, grants €30,000 to the winners, according to AFP. Renowned matadors such as Enrique Ponce and Julián López have won the prize in the past. Bullfighting still has a passionate fan base in Spain, where top matadors are treated like celebrities.

However, the appeal of bullfighting has been waning, and polls show a growing disinterest across the country, especially among young people. According to a survey on leisure habits conducted by the Ministry of Culture, only 1.9% of the Spanish population attended a bullfight during the 2021-2022 season, compared to 8% in 2018-2019.