The Congress of Mexico City approved on Tuesday the prohibition of bullfighting with violence, a long-awaited initiative praised by animal advocates but strongly criticized by bullfighters and thousands of fans of bullfighting in the country. The proposal, presented by the capital's mayor Clara Brugada from the Morena party, was backed by 61 votes in favor and one against.
The new regulation stipulates the prohibition of using pikes and swords in bullfights, as well as the protection of bulls’ horns to prevent injuries. "The goal is not the disappearance of bullfighting but its evolution, so that the Bullring of Mexico City becomes a space for culture, art, and entertainment, leaving behind animal suffering by having bloodless bullfights," expressed Congressman Victor Hugo Romo de Vivar from Morena.
Outside the capital's Congress, bullfighting supporters protested trying to enter the building, but they were contained by the police. They carried signs with slogans such as "there is no animal more respected in life than the brave bull... no one loves it more than us: the bullfighter ranchers."
The approved ruling will come into effect in 210 natural days, during which the government of Mexico City must establish the rules to carry out bullfights without violence. The bullring of the Mexican capital is considered the largest in the world, even surpassing those in Spain, the birthplace of this controversial tradition.
The first bullfight in the current territory of Mexico dates back to 1529, during the time of Hernán Cortés, in the heart of what would later become the capital. In recent years, various countries in Latin America have completely banned bullfighting, with Colombia being the most recent case, which last year approved a ban on bullfighting starting in 2027 across the entire country.
