Catalonia votes on bullfighting abolition bill

Politicians in the Spanish region of Catalonia might ban bullfighting in a razor-close vote, rejecting a pillar of traditional Spain in a region with its own language and culture and an acute sense of being a country within a country.

If a proposed ban is approved in today’s local legislature vote, the wealthy northeast coastal region centred around Barcelona would become the first in mainland Spain to outlaw the deadly ballet of sword-wielding matador and charging half-ton beast.