Hope for the return of bullfighting to Pérols in 2027 ?

Pérols a fait un recours contre la décision d’interdire la tauromachie dans ses arènes. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Un recours vient d’être déposé devant la Cour administrative d’appel suite à la décision d’interdire la novillada prévue en 2023.

The bullfighting world was pleased in 2023 with the reopening of the Pérols arenas to bullfighting with the organization of a Miura novillada on July 15 after more than two decades of bullfighting. interruption. A highly symbolic place because it is integrated into the Montpellier Méditerranée metropolis in a Montpellier basin which no longer organized bullfights with the shutdown of Palavas and Mauguio at the time. Since then, the latter has reorganized two novilladas for the "Romeria" who posted two "no hay billetes" in 2023 and 2024.

Ban confirmed on the merits last June 4

Thus, the Anti-Corrida Alliance immediately opposed this novillada by filing an appeal with the Administrative Court, which suspended the event on May 16, 2023. A judgment on the merits of the same court in Montpellier confirmed the decision on June 4.

Persevering in his desire to see bullfighting revive in Pérols, the mayor, Jean-Pierre Rico, organized three becerradas on Thursdays in July, without killing, pikes and banderillas to respect the administrative decision while displaying his bullfighting will in his arenas.

In a complex legislative case concerning the definition of the territory and the absence of interruption of the bullfighting tradition, the administrative judge based his decision on the fact that the defense had insufficiently demonstrated the sustainability of the local bullfighting tradition. The mayor therefore appealed the recent decision on the merits with two requests registered with the clerks of the Administrative Court of Toulouse.

The fight therefore continues for Jean-Pierre Rico and the bullfighting mundillo for the return of bullfighting to Pérols. It is the office of Michel Dufranc, Secretary General of the UVTF (Union of French Bullfighting Cities), who will take charge of the case to benefit from his experience in the matter.

A law firm skilled in bullfighting pleadings

According to the UVTF, “he has already won many similar cases in Bordeaux, Parentis, Dax, Béziers and he appeared before the Constitutional Council on behalf of the ONCT during the historic decision of September 21, 2012”. The Union of Bullfighting Cities refers, on this last point, to the recognition of the bullfighting exception confirmed by this body following a priority question of constitutionality raised by the Radically Anti-Corrida Committee (CRAC).

The mayor of Pérols and the UVTF therefore hope that these requests will make it possible to overturn the first judgment. Even in the event of legal success, the novillada project will probably not be able to be carried out before 2027 given the delays before the administrative courts which are of the order of two years.