Next Tuesday, October 7th will be a date marked on the calendar for the animal rights movement in Spain. The Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) "No Es Mi Cultura" finally reaches the Plenary Session of Congress, where its consideration will be debated and voted on. This decisive step could mean the beginning of the end for the legal protection safeguarding bullfighting in our country.
The initiative, driven by a broad coalition of organizations and backed by civil society, is not a symbolic gesture, but the result of unprecedented citizen support. A total of 664,777 signatures were validated—32.91% more than those obtained by the pro-bullfighting ILP in 2012, which established bullfighting as Cultural Heritage.
| Initiative | Main Objective | Year Presented | Valid Signatures JEC | Margin Above Minimum Threshold (Approx.) |
| ILP "No Es Mi Cultura" | Repeal Law 18/2013 (Remove Protection) | 2025 | 664,777 | +42% (Over 164,000 signatures above minimum) |
| Pro-Bullfighting ILP | Protection Law 18/2013 (Safeguarding) | 2012 | 500,165 | Minimum (Only 165 signatures above threshold) |
"This is the result of years of tireless effort and, above all, the voice of more than 664,000 people who have said loud and clear that torture cannot be considered culture," stated Aída Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. "Reaching this Plenary Session is a victory for empathy and democracy. We have brought the will of the people to the heart of the institutions, and now political representatives have the duty to listen to it."
Returning Power to the People
The central objective of the ILP is clear and direct: to repeal Law 18/2013 that currently declares bullfighting as cultural heritage. This law, approved over a decade ago, acts as a shield that prevents autonomous communities and town councils from legislating to prohibit bullfighting spectacles in their territories.
If the ILP is finally approved, full competency on this matter would be restored, allowing each regional and municipal government to decide whether to authorize or prohibit bullfights, thus reflecting the sensitivity and values of their citizens.
As Cristina Ibáñez, lawyer for AnimaNaturalis and representative of the Promoting Commission, stated during her appearance in the Culture Committee, "culture is not imposed, culture is chosen." This ILP is an opportunity for our laws to reflect the values of a society increasingly aware of animal welfare.
A Vote That Will Define the Future
Next Tuesday's vote is crucial. If parliamentary groups vote in favor of considering the proposal, it will begin its parliamentary process to become law. This would be the start of an in-depth debate that will confront Spain with its relationship with animals.
"On Tuesday, members of parliament will not only be voting on a law; they will be deciding whether Spain moves forward with the 21st century or remains stuck in a past that the majority of society has already left behind," emphasized Gascón. "They have in their hands the opportunity to heed the public outcry and to legislate in favor of compassion and respect. We hope they rise to the occasion of the historic moment we represent."
From AnimaNaturalis, we celebrate this immense achievement made possible by collective effort. The door to a future without bullfighting is closer than ever to opening.
