Well into the twenty first century, politicians vote to maintain the medieval cruelty of chasing a bull and killing it with a lance at the Toro de la Vega festival. In 2006 certain festivals were removed from the category of being of “National and International Touristic Interest” because considered cruel to animals. The festival Toro de la Vega was made an exception to this withdrawal. In November of this year a motion was presented to remove this exception because by its nature it was obviously cruel to animals.

After being debated in the Committee of Culture of the Spanish Senate on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, the motion was eventually rejected by the votes of the parties PP and PSOE, who always act in tandem on such issues, PSC and the abstention of the PSC(Catalan Socialist Party), an abstention that inherently implies acceptance.

The defeat of this motion allows the City Council of Tordesillas to declare that from next year they will fine all those who protest against or 'defame' the tournament. They have the power to impose fines of between 1,001 and 3,000 euros against anyone who dares to protest against this cruelty.

Once again ultraconservatism and “taurocracy” combine to pretend that the medieval practice of public and atrocious torture of a living being, is considered a representative part of the cultural heritage of Spain.

Where are those politicians who should represent the majority of citizens that reject and are ashamed of these denigrating shows?

When will they begin to understand that such behaviour is contributing to the unstoppable and growing disaffection toward politics and politicians?