Canarias is oblivious to the controversy unleashed in the peninsula by the attempt of citizens of Catalonia to ban bullfights. While in the rest of Spain the debate has moved to other forums and, in addition, many have cried out to the heavens, understanding that the abolition of this festival would mean an anti-Spanish act by Catalonia, in Canarias this issue was overcome a long time ago, without controversy and without battles.
And it is that Canarias sees from afar how the rest of Spain lives pending the debate in the Parlament about the possible prohibition of bullfighting. In the Archipelago, there was not even a debate, it was not necessary. The hobby was very scarce, saw this party very distant and practically did not oppose the approval of the law, in 1991, by the Canarian Parliament, through which these bullfights were prohibited. It stated that it was forbidden to "use animals in fights, parties, shows and other activities that involve mistreatment, cruelty or suffering." And there was no opposition, because seven years before this regulation was approved, this festival was no longer celebrated in Canarias.
However, this law also left the door open to abolish cockfights, something that did meet with the resounding rejection of the Canarians and, finally, these battles were allowed taking into account their cultural tradition.
Canarias has only had three bullrings in its history, two in Gran Canaria and one, the most famous, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This venue was inaugurated in 1893 and, after hosting several bullfights, a century later, these shows stopped taking place and the square began to celebrate the galas of election of the Queen of the Carnival or the contests of murgas.
The Tías square
Although many do not remember, in Lanzarote there was also a bullring, quite small, located in Tías. As published at the time by the newspaper La Voz de Lanzarote, the square was demolished in 1996, when it was already in a terrible state of conservation, since it had been more than 20 years since a bullfight was held there.
For this reason, the City Council of Tías decided in a plenary session to demolish this square, which was in ruins and in which, instead of the arena, there were small green plants, as well as garbage, stones and plastics. Even the square, instead of hosting bulls, sheltered chickens, who lived under the skeleton of this metal enclosure in Tías.
Politicians give their opinion on bulls
JESÚS MACHÍN, Island President of Coalición Canaria
How is the controversy in Catalonia over the attempt to ban bullfighting being seen from Canarias?
It is the same as if we prohibited cockfights in Lanzarote. It is an equal comparison. It does have something different, since in the case of bulls it is man against an animal, and in the case of roosters it is the fight of an animal against another animal. They are cultures and customs, and it is very difficult to pronounce on the matter.
As the debate has been reflected in Catalonia, where there is more talk about the issue of independence than the protection of the animal, do you think it could be considered that Canarians are less Spanish for not having bulls?
No, of course. We Canarians do not have bulls, we have roosters, which we consider the same. Canarias is out of this and those debates.
Why do you think the tradition of bullfighting has not taken root here?
I think that in Canarias and Lanzarote there is not enough population or fans for bullfighting. That's why, simply. Just as in cockfights there is a hobby that is not very majority, but it is maintained. The issue of bullfighting is unknown in Canarias. In its day, there was the famous bullring of Tenerife, but today there is nothing. It must be taken into account that Canarias are seven islands and it is not the same as Catalonia, which is a community with continuous territory or Madrid. In Canarias you have to move to another island.
Do you think they should be banned throughout Spain?
I prefer not to comment right now because they are customs, and I prefer that the situation be studied, analyzed and that the measures that are best considered be taken.
MANUEL CABRERA, PIL spokesman
How is the controversy in Catalonia over the attempt to ban bullfighting being seen from Canarias?
It is seen with some distance, because obviously we have not been followers from the bullfighting world for a long time.
As the debate has been reflected in Catalonia, where there is more talk about the issue of independence than the protection of the animal, do you think it could be considered that Canarians are less Spanish for not having bulls?
No, no more and no less. They are traditions and cultures and in Canarias it never finished taking hold. As soon as an era that was perhaps more of an imposition passed, it disappeared.
Why do you think the tradition of bullfighting has not taken root here?
It is the result of a culture, and this type of act comes from a very important livestock world in the Iberian Peninsula, which never made sense in Canarias. In Canarias there is no such tradition, we do not have that livestock development, we do not have that culture. There it seems very normal to us, but here it has no roots.
Do you think they should be banned throughout Spain?
No, I am not in favor of either prohibiting or not prohibiting. Little by little it will choose its path. The prohibition, sometimes, scares me a little, because in the end the politicians seem that we are going to rule in the tastes of the people. One can agree or not, go or not go, but prohibiting does not seem very good to me.
MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ, Island Secretary of Communication of the PSOE
How is the controversy in Catalonia over the attempt to ban bullfighting being seen from Canarias?
It looks distant. In Canarias there is a law of the Parliament of Canarias, in which bullfights are expressly prohibited. With which, it is an issue that is quite far from us Canarians, although personally I am in favor of the position of the anti-bullfighting. I believe that under the name of national holiday you cannot hide an act of torture and attack on a defenseless animal.
As the debate has been reflected in Catalonia, where there is more talk about the issue of independence than the protection of the animal, do you think it could be considered that Canarians are less Spanish for not having bulls?
No, not at all, it has nothing to do with it. In Canarias, the truth is that there has always been very little tradition. There are practically no bullrings in the Archipelago.
¿Why do you think the tradition of bullfighting has not taken root here?
Because of the distance, because of the special geographical situation of Canarias. When the bullfighting festival began to move throughout the country, it was more difficult for it to arrive here. The non-existence of the bull, of the animal, could also have meant that this custom did not take root. It would not be easy to put the bulls on a boat.
Do you think they should be banned throughout Spain?
Yes. If the possibility of making a law prohibiting bullfights and everything that has to do with bullfighting were taken to the Congress of Deputies, I would support it without hesitation. I also detest cockfights. If it were in my hand I would also prohibit them.
GINÉS QUINTANA, Councilor of Citizen Alternative
How is the controversy in Catalonia over the attempt to ban bullfighting being seen from Canarias?
It is not paid any attention to. It is not talked about and I do not think it worries the population, because in the street you do not hear about this issue at all.
As the debate has been reflected in Catalonia, where there is more talk about the issue of independence than the protection of the animal, do you think it could be considered that Canarians are less Spanish for not having bulls?
That is mixing many things. It seems to me that one thing has nothing to do with the other. It has nothing to do with Catalanism being against bullfights.
Why do you think the tradition of bullfighting has not taken root here?
In Lanzarote, because there has never been one, except for a portable bullring in Tías, when I was a child. In Canarias, this tradition did not take root for an elementary reason, because here we do not have to raise bulls, they had to be brought from outside and the business would be very expensive. Customs take root according to what is in each land, such as gastronomy.
Do you think they should be banned throughout Spain?
We should protect the bug more. Personally, I do not like bullfights or cockfights at all. We should put lions and tigers to see if they are able to fight them.
ASTRID PÉREZ, Island President of the PP
How is the controversy in Catalonia over the attempt to ban bullfighting being seen from Canarias?
In Canarias we are a little oblivious to these things and we worry about other things that affect us more, that concern us much more directly, than the issue of bullfighting. Honestly, I do not hear people talking about it and I think that Canarians do not pronounce on the yes or no to bullfighting. It looks very distant.
As the debate has been reflected in Catalonia, where there is more talk about the issue of independence than the protection of the animal, do you think it could be considered that Canarians are less Spanish for not having bulls?
It has nothing to do with it. It is a matter of culture. It has nothing to do with being more or less Spanish. It is a tradition, which is not rooted here, because we are many kilometers from the peninsula.
Why do you think the tradition of bullfighting has not taken root here?
Because of the distance, and because here there has never been the tradition of the peninsula. That is clear.
Do you think they should be banned throughout Spain?
No, you have to prohibit what injures the right of a person. But it is something very free and freedom is the first thing. Whoever does not like bullfighting should not go. No right of another person is violated by going to bullfighting
