The controversial bill declaring bull runs (torín) as traditional and cultural heritage of Paraguay is again on the agenda of the ordinary session of the Chamber of Deputies, scheduled for next Tuesday. The proposal, already approved by the Senate, has sparked controversy between animal rights advocates and lawmakers who defend tradition.
In Paraguay, torín differs from Spanish bullfighting: the animal is not killed, but people dressed as clowns or in flashy clothing provoke and dodge the bull's charges until it becomes exhausted. Animal protection organizations consider the practice cruel and call for the bill to be shelved.
The National Directorate for Animal Defense, Health and Welfare issued a statement rejecting the initiative, noting that the country enacted Law 7513 last year, which declares animals as sentient beings and increases penalties for mistreatment. The Chamber of Deputies, which approved that law, now faces pressure not to pass a measure that, according to critics, contradicts the recognition of animals' capacity to suffer.
The bill has a majority of (non-binding) opinions in favor of approval and only one against. As this is the first vote in the Lower House, both approval and rejection require a simple majority. The inclusion of the topic on the agenda for the second consecutive week allows it to be brought forward through a motion of preference.