Process to return bullfighting to Catalonia in "advanced stages", according to Spanish government

Fernando Benzo, Undersecretary of Education, Culture and Sport for the Spanish government, said on Friday, during the presentation of the 1st International Congress--"Bullfighting as a cultural heritage", that the ministry is "on track" to return bullfighting to Catalonia. In addition, they are planning legislation to ensure that what happened in Catalonia "cannot legally happen again" anywhere in Spain.

In this regard, he said that the process is "advanced", although he had "no comment" on a date for the return of bullfighting to Catalonia. He reiterated the commitment to establish bullfighting as a cultural heritage, and noted that a bill for protection of intangible heritage is being prepared.

Former king Juan Carlos will preside over the congress on bullfighting, from 27 February to 1 March 2015 in Albacete, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the Foundation for Culture and Sport of Castilla-La Mancha, with the collaboration of the Provincial Council of Albacete and Albacete’s City Council.

Meanwhile, the minister of Education, Culture and Sport of Castilla-La Mancha and president of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Culture and Sport of Castilla-La Mancha, Marcial Marín, confirmed that it is necessary to "fight for UNESCO to consider bullfighting a cultural heritage", and that data from a recent survey show that "89% of citizens of Castilla-La-Mancha esteem, understand, and protect bullfighting as a cultural heritage, as the region is a "land of bulls".

The 1st Congress on Bullfighting will examine it as a cultural phenomenon and an example of an intangible cultural heritage, combining institutional and academic aspects through round tables, informative conferences, parties, and activities of a cultural nature that address the different aspects of bullfighting.