The president of the Angra do Heroísmo Chamber of Commerce, Marcos Couto, said that the bullfighting activity “is important” for the regional economy since it has an estimated annual impact of abut 93 million euros, which corresponds to “almost 3%” of the Region’s Gross Domestic Product and 11.5% of Terceira’s GDP.

At a hearing in the Social Affairs Committee of the Azorean parliament, held on Thursday, regarding a proposed PAN diploma for the abolition of bullfighting in the Azores, Marcos Couto highlighted the cultural and tourist relevance of the sector.

“Bullfighting activities are increasing, not only in Terceira but also in Graciosa, São Jorge, and Pico, representing a vital economic aspect,” he said.

According to Marcos Couto, “the local aficionados are different because more than the performance of the artists value the bulls,” having advanced with the estimate that 1,400 animals participate annually in bullfights in the Region.

Also, in the context of the parliamentary hearings, the Regional Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, Sofia Ribeiro expressed her opposition to the PAN proposal, claiming that bullfights are “cultural shows” provided for constitutionally. “It is considered a violation of a constitutional right. Culture cannot be defined by legislation,” she said.

For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, António Ventura, also heard by regional deputies, bullfighting has more and more “aficionados” in the Region, especially on the island of Terceira, where the tradition is much more rooted, with a significant impact on the regional economy, pointing out the realization of about 300 bullfights on the rope per year in Terceira that, according to him, now has a “greater adherence of young people.”  He didn’t specify any numbers on this alleged increase. 

PAN’s proposal

In the proposal for a regional legislative decree delivered last June in the Azorean parliament, the PAN defends “the conversion of the existing bullrings in the Region into multipurpose equipment, for truly cultural or sporting purposes, and also the creation of a measure to encourage the insertion in the labor market and promote the employment of workers who are dedicated exclusively to bullfighting.”

The PAN justifies the initiative with the need to “abolish any bullfighting practices in the Region” as it considers that they cause “unnecessary suffering, cruel treatment and unjustified death” to animals.

The PAN initiative is expected to be debated in September in the plenary of the Azorean Parliament. PAN stands for Partido dos Animais e Natureza—Party of the Animals and Nature. The party hs one deputy in the Regional Assembly.

From Diário Insular, Terceira Island’s daily newspaper-José Lourenço-Director.

Translated to Portuguese by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and MCLL (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures) Department, for Bruma Publications Fresno State as a community outreach project.