The Federation of Bullfighting Clubs of bulls in the street The Valencian Community will soon appeal to the courts against the order of the Ministry of Culture that eliminates the National Bullfighting Award, “to defend bullfighting as a cultural expression of identity of our land and of all Spain,” according to the president of this organization, Germán Zaragozá, and the lawyer Eduardo Breña.
The federation comprises 180 associations, with more than 25,000 members; 8,700 shows are held each year in 262 towns in the community, where 22,000 cattle are run, including 1,200 fighting bulls, according to data provided by Zaragozá.
“A mere reading of the regulations,” states a statement from the federation, “reveals that it is not only arbitrary and unmotivated, but also constitutes an abuse of power, by imposing a political or ideological criterion on reality and current legislation, stubbornly ignoring the fact that bullfighting is one of the greatest exponents of the cultural heritage that unites all Spaniards and sister nations.”
According to the rocks of bulls in the street“The Ministerial Order is manifestly contrary to the basic state legislation, which in this matter is constituted by Law 18/2013, of November 13, regulating Bullfighting as Cultural Heritage, which imposes on the public authorities the duty to guarantee the conservation of bullfighting and promote its enrichment, in accordance with the provisions of article 46 of the Constitution.”
Finally, he points out that “with the forcefulness required by all that has happened, in the face of a regulatory norm of a marked ideological nature, which limits constitutionally and legally recognized rights and which, in our opinion, voluntarily, consciously and obscenely violates the law, we cannot rule out the exercise of criminal actions against the minister, the authorities and responsible officials if the imposition of a regulatory norm on current legislation and the reality of Spanish society is proven.”
German Zaragoza states that the bulls in the street They are the most important social and cultural events in the Valencian Community, which form the backbone of the territory from north to south, and are the fundamental basis of the festivals of many towns.” The president is convinced that this spectacle “is bullfighting, without a doubt,” and “the origin of bullfights as they are known today.”
He says that in most towns they are supported by financial contributions from members and the activities organised by the clubs throughout the year, and only some town councils in larger towns help with subsidies.
“We are talking about an economic impact on the community of 300 million euros per year,” adds Zaragozá, “with an average attendance of 800,000 people, which translates into 7,200,000 spectators at all the festivities.”