Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting

11:37 El NACHO 0 Comments

Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting - the first region of mainland Spain to do so.

The vote took place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated.Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve.They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country. The ban takes effect in January 2012.In Wednesday's vote, 68 backed a ban, 55 voted against and nine abstained.

Barcelona's main bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, but support for the bullfight has waned.

The vote was brought to the agenda by activists who argue it is cruel and unacceptable and say most spectators in Catalonia these days are tourists.

Supporters says the corrida is an art form that it is vital to preserve.

The vote was close as the two main parties in parliament took the unusual step of allowing members to cast their ballots according to their conscience.