The motion to ban the activity in the municipality was tabled during yesterday’s council meeting and the PSOE Socialist Party, Som Palma (Podemos) and MES all voted in favour of the motion. The Partido Popular and Ciudadanos voted against.
Earlier this week spokesperson for the opposition PP, Margalida Duran, said that a referendum should be held. She complained that this was the administration’s "only social policy".
During the election campaign, she said, it was the "stellar" point of the parties now in control of the council to bring about "zero poverty". Yet, she claims, they have done nothing to move towards this goal after six weeks of having been in control. "What are the benefits for families at risk of social exclusion from Palma declaring itself against bullfighting?"
However, the animal rights group Mallorca Sense Sang (Majorca without blood) was overwhelmed with the ruling.
Over the past few years, the number of local councils banning bull fighting has increased as the organisation stepped up its campaign but Palma was its principal target.
And, Guillermo Amengual, spokesperson for mallorca Sense Sang, said yesterday that they, and all their supporters hope that this "historic ruling sends out a clear message to the rest of the Balearics and that this is the first step towards bull fighting being banned completely in the region.
"This is the beginning of the end of bull fighting in the Balearics," Amengual proclaimed.
Mallorca Sense Sang first launched its campaign in 2014 and has been supported by animal rights groups such as Anima Naturalis and CAS International.
Bolstered by yesterday’s council ruling, Amengual said that they are now preparing a white paper which will eventually be put to the Balearic government and parliament to abolish bull fighting in the Balearics.
Palma Council’s decisions comes as no surprise. Not only has it declared the municipality to be anti-bullfighting, but also one free of the mistreatment of animals.
In addition, in line with Mallorca Sense Sang, the council has also expressed its wish for bullfights to no longer be held and for the regional parliament to prohibit bullfighting and any other type of show which can cause the suffering of animals.
The council has also called on the national government to not grant aid to bullfighting and to remove a declaration of being in cultural or tourist interestor any shows which involve animal mistreatment.
Palma has become the 19th municipality to have banned bull fighting in the Balearics.
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I'm in Palma now on hols and only come to Majorca because of its anti bull fighting polic,and will never use mainland Spain until they stop the bull fights.
I am, I'm sure, one of the many tourists who are elated at this news, I understand it has been a tradition for many years and for many reason, but I have followed this story with interest and am truly pleased the council has voted in favour of the ban.