The Congress of Mexico City has just taken a step that has generated a whirlwind of reactions: with 61 votes in favor and only one against, it approved the realization of “bullfights without violence”. The decision, which was born from a citizen’s initiative originally focused on the total prohibition of these events, has been modified to allow bullfighting, but without causing harm or death to animals.
A proposal that divided opinions
Since the debate was announced in Congress, the surroundings of the legislative precinct became the scene of protests. On the one hand, animal rights advocates celebrated the advance towards a less violent practice. On the other hand, fans of the “fiesta brava” and those who depend economically on it were concerned about the modifications that could completely transform the spectacle.
The initiative, which was supported by the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), proposes to eliminate the use of sharp objects. In addition, fighting time would be reduced to a maximum of 10 minutes per bull and economic sanctions of up to 3,000 times the current Unit of Measurement and Actualization (equivalent to approximately US $16,970) would be imposed if the animal suffers injuries or dies.
Evolution or end of a tradition?
For some legislators, such as Jesús Sesma, this change represents a move towards a more animal-friendly society. “We have been mistreating other living beings for fun for many years. It is time to evolve,” he said. But on the other side, figures from the bullfighting guild such as Raúl Pérez Johnston consider that this “non-violent” version completely distorts the essence of bullfighting. “It’s like changing the soccer ball for a rugby ball and still calling it soccer,” he exemplified.
In addition, there are practical concerns. The initiative establishes that the bulls must be returned to the ranch after the bullfight, but experts warn that this could generate health problems and problems of reinsertion into the herds. In other countries where similar regulations have been attempted, such as the Balearic Islands in Spain, the result has been a return to traditional bullfighting after the restrictions were declared unconstitutional.
An uncertain economic impact
Beyond the moral debate, there is an economic factor that cannot be ignored. The bullfighting industry generates jobs in livestock, transportation, tourism and local commerce. With this reform, some sectors fear a drop in the number of spectators and, therefore, a crisis for those who depend on these events. Although Sesma assures that the transition will be gradual and will seek to protect the workers in the profession, opponents believe that the change could mean the gradual disappearance of bullfighting in Mexico.
What’s next?
Bullfighting supporters have advanced that they will explore legal options to stop the initiative, from amparos to challenges for unconstitutionality. In the meantime, the approval of the ruling in general is only the first step; the specific regulation and its implementation could generate new confrontations in the coming months.
This is an issue that will undoubtedly continue to be talked about. For some, it represents a compromise between tradition and animal welfare; for others, a half-hearted attempt that neither protects the bulls nor satisfies the fans. What do you think? Is it a step in the right direction or the beginning of the end for bullfighting in Mexico?
