“Bullfighting is a place where a human being, in conscience, applies strategies and resorts to weapons to measure himself against an animal that has no other resource than the reflection of its primary instinct. This is an active form of pure barbarism”, said Pedro Emanuel Paiva in a statement.

In the note sent to the press, the Lisbon Animal Ombudsman recalls that “the capital is a city committed to the protection and well-being of animals”, but, with regard to bullfighting activities in Campo Pequeno, he underlines that it is “fundamental not allowing stagnation and making an up-to-date interpretation of what citizens think and legitimately want in this matter: the end of bullfighting”.

In his most recent official recommendation, Pedro Emanuel Paiva asks that the Lisbon City Council seek to engage in dialogue with Casa Pia de Lisboa, in order to change the mandatory holding of bullfighting shows in the Campo Pequeno Bullring.


“Only through a dialogue between the municipality and Casa Pia de Lisboa can the legal changes to the contractual clauses that oblige bullfighting shows to be held in the bullfighting ring of Campo Pequeno be found”, says the recommendation.

In May 2019, the then mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, sent a letter to Casa Pia releasing the institution from holding bullfights in Praça do Campo Pequeno.

In the official recommendation to the Lisbon City Council, Pedro Emanuel Paiva also adds that it is “crucial” that the municipality avoids promoting bullfighting shows.

“It is crucial that the Lisbon City Council assume a serious commitment as a minimum ethical and legal framework in terms of bullfighting, by refraining from supporting or promoting – directly or indirectly and in any capacity – the holding of these socially divisive events”, reads up in the document.

Bull sanctuary

Pedro Emanuel Paiva also defended the creation of a wild bull sanctuary in the municipality, as a measure of protection and preservation of that species, as well as the possibility of, through this sanctuary, originating a new economic concept, in cooperation with the “Reserva Del Toro Bravo”, founded by Portuguese businessman Miguel Aparício.