Poll reveals sharp drop in Spanish support for bullfighting

Less than one in five Spaniards now supports bullfighting.

The decline was most pronounced among young Spaniards, with just 7% of 16-24 year olds in favour.

Carried out on the eve of the national elections in December last year, the poll tells the story of a steep fall in support of bullfighting, along with opposition to other festivals and traditions that involve cruelty to animals.

Elections took place in Spain in December, but votes were split between multiple parties and no one has been able to form a coalition. Spain has traditionally been a two-party state, but the emergence of two new parties (Podemos and Ciudadanos) suggests a new reforming era, perhaps more in tune with the public feeling revealed in this poll.

Results

The online poll by Ipsos MORI for World Animal Protection, found that 19% of adults in Spain aged 16-65 said they supported bullfighting, compared to 58% who opposed it – three times as many. This is a sharp drop from 30% support amongst adults aged 16-65 in a similar Ipsos MORI online poll conducted for Humane Society International (HSI) in March 2013.

The current poll also found that

• Only 7% of 16-24 year old respondents supported bullfighting compared to 29% support in the 55-65 age group. In the 16-34 age group, 71% opposed and 10% supported bullfighting and in the 35-65 year old group, 51% opposed and 23% supported.
• 84% of 16-24 year olds said they were “not very” or “not at all” proud to be living in a country where bullfighting is a cultural tradition. In comparison 67% of all respondents 16-65 said they were not proud of this.  
• Although the Spanish Government can use public funds to assist the bullfighting industry, there was strong opposition to this with around 3 in 4 (73%) disagreeing that this should take place. A similar proportion (73%) disagreed with public funds being used to promote bullfighting as part of Span’s national heritage. 
• The poll also revealed strong opposition to individual festivals and traditions. The Toro de la Vega festival, was supported by just 5% of adults 16-65, with 75% of adults aged 16-65 being opposed. The Toro de Fuego festival in Medinaceli had 7% support, with 71% opposed.

These results are an opportunity for an incoming Spanish Government to show it is listening to the Spanish people. It is clear the public are moving away from the outdated practice of bullfighting.

Now is the moment for a forward-looking Spanish Government to act.

This is why we are calling on them to make a resolution that 2016 will be the last year these despicable traditions will take place. All political parties should make a new pledge to end the cruelty - not just bullfighting but of all the other fiestas and festivals where animals are treated cruelly, or terrified, taunted and tortured.

These results are an opportunity for an incoming Spanish Government to show it is listening to the Spanish people. It is clear the public are moving away from the outdated practice of bullfighting.