Andalusian deputies from different parties unite in defense of animal dignity

From left to right, Francisco Garrido (Los Verdes), Esperanza Oña (PP), Luz Marina Dorado (Adelante Andalucía) and Javier Pareja (Cs), at the presentation of the Prodia association in favor of animal rights.

For now there are only four, but they have done nothing more than start. Three members of the Andalusian Parliament from different formations —Esperanza Oña (PP), Javier Pareja (Citizens) and Luz Marina Dorado (not attached, from Adelante Andalucía)— and the former Los Verdes parliamentarian Francisco Garrido have created a parliamentary association (Prodia) , outside the parties, in favor of animal protection and dignity. In the midst of the controversy over the macro-farms, in a community where the bullfighting tradition is deeply rooted and where there are 230,000 federated hunters, these elected officials intend to open a debate and translate it into parliamentary initiatives against mistreatment and in favor of respect for animals.

Behind these deputies are about 70 Andalusian associations that, as Esperanza Oña stated this Friday in the Andalusian Parliament, provide a "public service" that is not recorded as such.

It is the first time that a regional Chamber has created a transversal group in defense of animal dignity, although the Parliamentary Association in Defense of Animal Rights has existed since 2007 in the Congress of Deputies.

"This is an active listening group, whose ultimate goal is to change the legislation with courageous changes and not by internal pressures of convenience and tradition," said Oña, promoter of the initiative.

The also second vice president of the Andalusian Parliament has assured that the association is "non-partisan, it is outside the ideology and guidelines set" by their respective parties.

Oña avoided answering questions about whether the association declares itself anti-bullfighting, nor did he want to enter into the controversy generated by the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, about the macro-farms. "If we are defending the rights of animals, you can imagine," he replied.

Prodia begins its path in the final stretch of the legislature and its promoters are aware that some of the initiatives that they present in Parliament will not have the support of the majority of the Chamber. “Sometimes they will vote no and debate will be created. There is no going back on this, it has finally touched the animal issue because society has changed. We must bet on changes in our country so that animals are treated with respect because they have dignity”. The parliamentary association has asked the Andalusian Government to create an animal welfare department in the Junta de Andalucía, just as an initiative has been promoted in the European Parliament so that there is a specific commissioner in this regard. The same request is launched to the municipalities and provincial councils of Andalusia.

Oña invited the spokespersons of the five parliamentary groups to the presentation in the autonomous Parliament of the association in favor of animal protection and dignity.

Only the one from the PP, José Antonio Nieto, has attended.