“We all understand what it means for a lance to pierce the neck of the animal, and obviously, such injuries cause significant blood loss to the animal, which is already in a hostile environment. I believe we can clearly state that the animal is being tortured,” explained Dagmar Sampaio, the animal ombudsman in the Azores, during a meeting of the Parliamentary, Environment, and Sustainable Development Affairs Committee of the Regional Assembly, gathered in Ponta Delgada.
The hearing was prompted by a petition submitted to the Azorean parliament by a group of citizens opposing the potential introduction of ‘sorte de varas’ or ‘lides picadas’ (where the bull is pierced by a lance) in bullfighting events, following recent remarks by the regional secretary of Agriculture, António Ventura, on this issue.
Signed by more than 2,200 people, the petition argues that “re-legalizing this type of violence represents a significant civilizational setback, especially when trying to promote the Azores as a destination of nature and animal welfare.”
The animal ombudsman in the Azores argues that ‘sorte de varas’ “does not ensure animal welfare” in bullfighting events and believes this practice, still permitted in some European countries, will naturally disappear over time.
“I find the term spectacle unsettling, when we are, in reality, witnessing more or less aggressive mistreatment of animals!” emphasized Dagmar Sampaio.
Diogo Caetano, from the environmental association “Amigos dos Açores,” also opposed the potential introduction of ‘sorte de varas’ in the archipelago, arguing that “the increase in animal suffering for human entertainment cannot be accepted.”
In his view, there is also a “conflict of interests” surrounding this issue, considering that a member of the Regional Government coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) proposed that the regional parliament amend the legislation to allow ‘lides picadas’ in bullfighting events.
“Having an executive member seek support in the Legislative Assembly to push through a particular initiative appears to us as a clear conflict of interests,” the ecologist insisted, also advocating that bullfights “should not receive public support.”
It is noteworthy that ‘sorte de varas’ was approved by the Azorean Legislative Assembly in 2002, but the decree was vetoed by the then Minister of the Republic for the Azores, Sampaio da Nóvoa, and sent to the Constitutional Court, which rejected it.
In 2009, a group of deputies, led by Social Democrat José Manuel Bolieiro (current President of the Regional Government of the Azores), attempted to reintroduce ‘sorte de varas’ in the regional parliament, with support from several other PSD, PS, CDS, and PPM parliamentarians.
The argument was that ‘lides picadas’ could improve the “artistic quality” of bullfights on Terceira Island, attracting and meeting the demands of major figures in the bullfighting world, but the decree was ultimately defeated by just one vote.
