The decision of the Ministry of Culture led by Ernest Urtasun to eliminate the National Bullfighting Award has raised dust from the beginning. Beyond the predictable reaction of the sector and the right-wing formations, the most significant reaction to the Government has come from a socialist leader, specifically the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page.
Page, a habitual rebellious figure within the PSOE for having questioned some of Pedro Sánchez’s decisions and who has already sparked internal controversies with his approaches to some members of the PP, has announced on the social network that they can be “coordinated or shared with other autonomies.” The regional president, who at no time mentions Culture’s decision in his tweet, emphasizes that his government has already contacted representatives of the bullfighting sector to carry out out the company.
The proposal of the president of La Mancha has not been the only reaction to the Urtasun movement, which has mobilized a good part of PP and Vox. The regional governments led by both conservative parties have joined Page’s proposal. For example, the Department of Foral Management and Rural World of the Government of Extremadura has been one of the first to show its willingness to grant its own recognition to bullfighting.
The idea has also been picked up and supported by the vice president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Vicente Barrera Simó. The Valencian politician from Vox, a former bullfighter, has pointed out that this measure is a “new attack on freedom of expression” and an “act of censorship” by the Government.
Likewise, the PP of Madrid has joined the protest and has indicated that it will never allow “the sectarian left to dilute the identity of Spain.” The Government of the Community is studying how to fit in the granting of prizes to bullfighting.
Another who has participated in the wave of reactions has been the popular leader of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, who has declared that he will create a regional award called “Premio Nicanor Villalta” in honor of the Aragonese bullfighter, which will reward the best “fight” of the season. in Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel.
For the moment, as an exceptional measure after what happened, the Fighting Bull Foundation has announced in a statement that it will award the national prize for this year and the following years as long as the “state of exceptionality” caused by Urtasun’s ministry does not change. .
It is not the first time that García-Page shows his love for bullfighting, going so far as to criticize the Ministry of Culture – directed at the time by Miquel Iceta – for not including bullfighting in the youth cultural bonus. And at that time, the man from Toledo already reminded the ministry that bullfighting activity is classified in the cultural category.
The reactions of X users to García-Page’s statement have been overwhelming. There have been many criticisms of the message, which cannot be debated by almost anyone as the responses are limited. While Minister Mónica García and Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz have celebrated the withdrawal of these awards, some such as Manuela Bergerot, spokesperson for Mas Madrid in the Madrid Assembly, have ironically commented on the socialist’s reaction, considering it typical of a member of the Popular Party. .
