Portugal’s bullfighting federation has accused the People Animals Nature political party of "cultural censorship" and of "attacking Portuguese culture" by proposing the end the current VAT exemption on bullfighting services.
In a statement released today, the federation contests PAN’s action, adding that it is by no means confirmed that the VAT exemption is to be ditched on the 2019 State Budget.
"We do not want to believe that the Government and the Socialist Party will support censorial, illegal and antidemocratic ideals. It would be an absurdity that would shock voters, who see in the DNA of the Socialist Party the values of freedom, tolerance and cultural diversity," blasted the bullfighting federation.
PAN announced on Friday that the Government is to end the VAT exemption for bullfighters.
PAN’s lone MP said that he had received a guarantee from the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Nuno Santos, and the leader of the PS parliamentary group, Carlos César.
For the Prótoiro federation, this move means that the PAN, "in its usual undemocratic way, again attacks Portuguese culture.”
"After an unsuccessful attempt to ban bullfights, he now comes to the conclusion that the end of the VAT exemption on the provision of services by bullfighters was a consummate fact. That is not true, since there is no confirmation from the Socialist Party and the budget will have to be voted on in parliament, so at best, it’s just a proposal," says the federation.
In the same communiqué, Prótoiro said that "bullfighting artists are exempt from IVA on their service provision, like all other artists in Portugal."
Contrary to PAN claims, many bullfighters already pay VAT as they supply their artistic services through companies, not through direct personal provision."
If this proposal is put to a vote in parliament as part of the State Budget, Prótoiro believes that the other parties "will once again be consistent with their recent declarations and votes, rejecting illegal attacks against bullfighting, in an example of tolerance, respect and freedom."
The July petition 'to ban bullfighting in Portugal' received favorable votes from PAN, the Left Bloc, the Greens, eight MPs from the Socialist Party and one from the Social Democratic Party. It was defeated.
