Last stand of the bullfighters

Bullfighting fans will shout “Ole” for the last time in Barcelona’s Monumental bullring on Sunday before a ban on the sport takes effect across the north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia.

The regional legislature banned the centuries-old tradition last year after Catalans signed a petition against it, in what many saw as expression of Catalan identity against the central government in Madrid.

The bullfighting industry is still convinced it has a chance to overturn the ban and bring back the toros next season to Catalonia, the only mainland region in Spain that has blocked the sport – or the art as its fans see it.

“I think the politicians will think twice about the ban and bullfighting will live on. Catalonia has plenty of serious bullfighting fans and in a democratic country they should be able to go to a bullfight,” said Moises Fraile, 64, owner of El Pilar, the breeder supplying bulls for Sunday’s spectacle.

Some 20,000 spectators are expected to fill a sold-out Monumental for Sunday’s blockbuster corrida starring celebrated Madrid torero Jose Tomas.

Mr Tomas retired in 2002, but came back in 2007 at a bullfight in Monumental, his favourite ring.

Since then he has made sporadic appearances and is the only bullfighter who can still sell out Monumental.

“There are several catalysts which could lead to the ban being overturned,” said Paco March, bullfighting critic for La Vanguardia, Catalonia’s top newspaper.

Mr March said the conservative People’s Party – one of Spain’s two main political forces – is fighting the ban on constitutional grounds and the Catalonia Bullfighting Federation is collecting signatures to petition the Spanish Congress.

Spain’s economic woes could also be a factor as regional governments such as Catalonia are under enormous pressure to cut spending and help the country trim its public deficit as it tries to dodge the eurozone debt crisis.

Such austerity measures could make it difficult for the Catalonian government to pay Monumental’s owner, Pedro Balana, several million euros for the building.

Spain’s general elections on 20 November could also play a role in the region’s bullfighting fate.

Opinion polls show the People’s Party will win the election – ending eight years of Socialist government – and could pressure Catalan politicians to reinstate bullfighting in exchange for financial support from central government.

Catalonia is known for its struggle with Madrid for greater autonomy and the right to maintain its separate culture, such as the Catalan language. Catalonia’s bullfighting ban symbolises its drive to differentiate itself from Madrid and its traditions.