Gustavo Petro Signs Landmark Bill to Ban Bullfighting in Colombia

Photo: AP

Colombian President Gustavo Petro Signs Bill Banning Bullfights

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — On Monday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a landmark bill banning bullfights, marking a significant shift in the country's cultural landscape. The signing took place in Bogotá's bullring, where Petro was joined by hundreds of animal rights activists. A supporter dressed as a bull presented the bill to the president during the ceremony.

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In his speech, Petro condemned the practice, stating, “We cannot tell the world that killing living and sentient beings for entertainment is culture. That kind of culture of killing an animal for entertainment would also lead us to killing human beings for entertainment, because we are also animals.”

The bill, passed by Colombia’s Congress in May after intense debate, mandates a nationwide ban on bullfights by 2027. Additionally, it requires the transformation of over a dozen bullrings into cultural and sporting venues.

Supporters of bullfighting argue that the ban infringes on minority rights to cultural expression and threatens the livelihoods of those involved in the tradition, including matadors, event promoters, merchants, and ranchers who breed the bulls.

In response to the ban, pro-bullfighting groups have launched a social media campaign, claiming the bill was approved without input from Colombia’s labor ministry. They also plan to challenge the law in the Constitutional Court.

Currently, only seven countries allow bullfighting: Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. However, regional and municipal bans exist within these countries.

Petro, who has opposed bullfighting since his tenure as Bogotá’s mayor, had previously repealed a city contract that allowed bullfighting in the city’s arena in 2012. After two decades of lobbying from animal rights activists, including protests and legislative efforts, the ban was finally enacted with support from Petro’s Historical Pact Party and various centrist and conservative legislators.

Chucho Merchan, a vegan activist and musician, praised the decision, stating, “For many years we have staged protests, lobbied Congress, and sought to win the hearts of Colombia’s people. In a country with so much violence, this ban is an example of evolving towards a world with more justice and less cruelty.”