Spanish court rules against plan to omit bullfights from youth voucher scheme

Supreme court said bullfighting was part of Spain's cultural heritage' but opponents see ruling as backwards step

The debate over bullfighting's place in Spanish culture and society has been reignited after the country's supreme court ruled that the Socialist-led government had been wrong to exclude bullfights from a list of events available to young people through a free culture voucher scheme.

Introduced last year, the bono cultural joven (youth culture voucher) entitles Spaniards turning 18 to a 400 (355) allowance - half of which can be spent on attending cultural events such as festivals, concerts, plays, exhibitions and films.