President of the Professional Union of Toreros David Lagunilla stated that "in a democratic state, it is impossible to deprive such a large number of people of the opportunity to watch a spectacle they love." In turn, the Union of Fighting Bull Breeders noted in a special statement that this is "an ill-conceived and hastily made decision that demonstrates disregard for Spain's most important cultural tradition and encourages radical opponents of the fiesta."
All sorts of protests against bullfighting have become common in Spain in recent years. Recently, interest in this spectacle in the country has been declining, and the media pay less attention than ever to bullfighting, especially compared with football. According to the state Center for Sociological Research, 84.2% of surveyed Spaniards say they are not interested in bullfighting, while 32% are against it, considering it a "cruel spectacle that should be banned." "If it weren't for foreign tourists," said the president of the Spanish Federation of Tour Operator Associations, Jesús Martínez Millán, "the bullfighting business would have long ceased to be profitable."
In 1999, Catalonia banned children from attending bullfights, as "it instills in them a habit of violence." This initiative was approved by the European Parliament, which called for such a ban for children throughout Spain. In April of this year, the Barcelona City Council considered the issue of a complete ban on bullfighting in the city and called on all of Catalonia to follow its example.
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