This is a decision that will rejoice the defenders of the animal cause. The administrative justice put a stop Tuesday to the return of the bullfight in Pérols, in the Hérault, considering that no well-established tradition in this city allowed to authorize shows with killing of bulls. The administrative court of Montpellier has thus "suspended" the execution of a deliberation of the municipal council of Pérols providing for the organization on July 15 of a "novillada, which opposes young bulls to young bullfighters, with killing of bulls".
A great victory for the @Anticorrida Alliance, which attacked the deliberation authorizing the resumption of bullfights in Pérols. The administrative judge has heard us and suspends the deliberation until the case is judged on the merits, which may take some time... pic.twitter.com/KBLGFASsIR
— Alliance Anticorrida (@Anticorrida) May 16, 2023
The mayor of Pérols, Jean-Pierre Rico, had announced in February the return of bullfighting in the arenas of this city near Montpellier and the neighboring seaside resorts of Carnon, Palavas-les-Flots and La Grande-Motte. Two animal protection associations, the "Comité radically anticorrida" (Crac Europe) and the "Alliance anticorrida", as well as three inhabitants of Pérols, had asked the administrative court to suspend the decisions of the municipal council.
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Ruling urgently, the administrative judge first recalled that "exercising serious abuse or committing an act of cruelty to an animal (...) shall be punishable by three years' imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros". But he also pointed out that there is an exception: bull racing is allowed when an "unbroken local tradition can be invoked". However, "no bullfighting show has been held on the territory of the municipality of Pérols since 2003, 20 years," notes in this case the administrative judge. The green light for the return of bullfighting is therefore suspended "until it is decided on the merits" of the decisions of the municipal council.
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The president of the Anti-Bullfighting Alliance, Claire Starozinski, welcomed in a statement a "decision of common sense". The Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) welcomed a decision that "marks a turning point in the history of a society that wishes to evolve while respecting animals". Asked by AFP, lawyers representing the municipality of Pérols did not comment on this decision.