Court rules to protect bullfighting as a cultural institution in Spain’s Balearic Islands

SPAIN’S Constitutional Court has annulled Balearic animal-welfare legislation, commonly referred to as the bull’s law.

The court has accepted the appeal against the legislation by the Madrid government, which was first filed when the Partido Popular were still in power.

The law, in the court’s view, invades state competencies with respect to protecting bullfighting as a national cultural institution.

Balearic measures contained provisions which were intended to make the holding of bullfights untenable, and forbidded the killing of bulls.

Although regional governments have the authority to regulate agriculture and livestock policies, they are obliged to safeguard bullfighting.