Mexico City announced new legislation to reform bullfighting practices in the capital, proposing rules that would eliminate violence and animal suffering during events. On March 13, Mexico City’s head of government Clara Brugada unveiled an initiative aiming to transform bullfighting into a non-violent bullfighting spectacle that preserves the economic activity and jobs surrounding the tradition while prioritizing animal welfare.
"The spectacle of blood cannot be justified as art or tradition," Brugada stated during a press conference reported by Sopitas. "Culture evolves, and we have the responsibility to transform it in favor of animal welfare."
The proposed regulations would prohibit the use of sharp objects that cause injuries or death to the bulls, such as swords, lances, or banderillas. Only the cape and muleta would be permitted during the bullfights under the new initiative. Additionally, each bull's time in the ring would be limited to 10 minutes, with a maximum total duration of 30 minutes per event.
Brugada emphasized, according to Excelsior, that Mexico City cannot maintain cruelty as entertainment "and much less the prolongation of the pain and death of an animal for entertainment." She believes the proposal aligns with the constitutional reform approved by Parliament in December, which prohibits mistreatment of animals and guarantees their protection, conservation, and care.
The initiative also includes measures to protect both the bulls and the participants. The horns of the bulls would have to be protected to avoid injuring other animals or people, with protective pads applied to sharp horns that threaten the bullfighter. Once the event concludes, the bull would return to its breeding farm, prohibiting the death of the bull inside and outside the arena.
Brugada assured, according to Le Figaro, that businesses and promoters have agreed to "transition to a bullfighting spectacle without violence" as part of new rules for bull protection. She added, as reported by Excelsior, "We can transform bullfighting and position ourselves at the forefront of a bullfighting model free of violence that is a world reference. And we have to bet on that. It is time to change and look forward, always in defense of the rights of all."
The proposal faced opposition from members of the bullfighting community who argued that the new rules could signify the end of traditional bullfighting. Bullfighters, entrepreneurs, and breeders expressed surprise at the initiative during a press conference. Mario Zulaica, director of Plaza México, stated, according to Excelsior, that the new regulations represent "a disguised prohibition."
"That is not considered bullfighting; that is not a bullfighting event; that is a show, it's a performance... the whole nature of what is defined as bullfighting is lost, which is the axis of plastic artists, music, painting, writing, poetry; the other is a performance," Zulaica said.
Manuel Sescosse, breeder and president of Tauromaquia Mexicana A.C., expressed concerns about the feasibility of the proposal. "In no country in the world are there precedents of a similar model that is successful," he stated, according to Excelsior.
There is skepticism about whether people who enjoy bullfighting will be satisfied with the new rules. According to Sopitas, some believe that proposing such changes reflects a lack of understanding of everything surrounding the practice.
The announcement of the new rules comes amid ongoing debates and legal disputes between bullfighting promoters and animal defenders. Four of the 32 Mexican states currently prohibit bullfighting. In other Latin American countries, similar discussions are taking place. In Bogotá, Colombia, and Quito, Ecuador, it is prohibited to kill bulls during bullfights, according to Le Figaro.
Excelsior reported that animal defenders view the constitutional reform approved by Parliament in December as a historic advance in animal protection, as it prohibits animal mistreatment and guarantees the protection of animals.
According to Wow TV, local media such as El Universal estimate that the annual revenue of the Mexican bullfighting-related industry amounts to 6.8 billion pesos (approximately 500 million dollars). The initiative aims to find a middle ground between those who criticize the violence of bullfighting and those who defend it as a tradition that generates thousands of jobs.
"Culture, music, art, and even rights change, evolve, transform, and great cities have the obligation to transform at the same time," Brugada said, according to Le Figaro.
The Monumental Plaza de Toros México in Mexico City is the largest bullfighting arena in the world, with a capacity of 42,000 spectators.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.