The French parliament is debating a bill that would ban children under 16 from attending bullfights. While it is likely to face rejection, the proposal has already ignited strong reactions – especially among fans of the centuries-old tradition.
The bill, introduced by Samantha Cazebonne, a former MP representing French citizens in Spain and Portugal, has reopened deep divisions between animal rights activists and defenders of local culture.
It will be voted on by senators on Friday.
In regions where bullfighting remains a core tradition – like the southern cities of Bayonne, Nîmes and Béziers – where it is recognised as part of the cultural landscape, debate has been especially fierce.
The Union of French Bullfighting Cities (UVTF), has vigorously opposed the bill, calling it an "unprecedented attack" on bullfighting.
Animal rights groups, on the other hand, see it as an opportunity to raise awareness about what they argue is the damaging impact of bullfights on children. The Protec collective (Protect Children from Bullfights) has already gathered over 40,000 signatures in support of the bill.
One hundred mayors recently published a petition in Midi Libre, a regional newspaper, warning that exposing children to bullfights "introduces them to the practice of a crime".
Jacques-Charles Fombonne, president of the French Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA), agrees, saying: "It is our duty to educate the younger generation to reject the idea of death as entertainment."
Cazebonne remains determined to push the bill forward.
"Many neighbouring countries, including those with strong bullfighting traditions like Spain, Portugal and several South American countries, have already passed laws on this issue," she said.
"Why should we be the last to protect our children?"
Animal cruelty or local culture? Bullfighting ban divides France
Cultural identity
The debate over the proposed ban has highlighted a broader clash between preserving cultural heritage and protecting children from what some consider violent and disturbing experiences.
The bill has found support from both left-wing and right-wing lawmakers, including some conservative Republicans in the Senate.
Among the bill’s supporters is Arnaud Bazin, a veterinarian and senator from Val-d'Oise, who argues that allowing children to attend bullfights is inconsistent with other protections in French law.
"These are extremely violent spectacles," Bazin said. "Allowing them in the presence of children is contradictory to our laws on child protection."
However, the bill faces strong opposition within the Senate. A recent committee review showed that the majority of senators support preserving local freedoms and parental rights, arguing that families should decide for themselves whether children can attend bullfights.
Max Brisson, a LR (Republicans) senator from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, expressed outrage on social media, saying the bill "violates local liberties, denies the role of parents in educating their children, and seeks to prevent them from passing down their culture and identity".
Legal challenges
The bill also faces legal challenges. Critics point out that the proposed sanctions for violating the law – up to five years in prison and €75,000 in fines – are disproportionate, particularly when it comes to the issue of minors attending bullfights.
Louis Vogel, a senator from the Horizons party and the bill’s rapporteur, described the proposal as inconsistent, noting that it would allow children to attend bullfighting schools but bar them from watching the actual events.
The bill comes two years after a failed attempt by Aymeric Caron, an MP with the hard-left France Unbowed party, to completely ban bullfighting in France. That bill, which aimed for a total ban, was never put to a vote in the National Assembly.
(with newswires)
