{"id":14670,"date":"2026-04-12T23:24:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T23:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elpregonerodechile.com\/?p=14670"},"modified":"2026-04-12T23:24:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T23:24:39","slug":"rodeo-equals-animal-abuse-and-should-not-be-supported-by-the-government-el-ciudadano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elpregonerodechile.com\/?p=14670","title":{"rendered":"\u00abRodeo Equals Animal Abuse and Should Not Be Supported by the Government\u00bb El Ciudadano"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Original article: Bancada parlamentaria animalista: \u201cEl rodeo es maltrato y no debe ser defendido por el Gobierno\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n

74% of Chileans Consider Rodeo to Imply Animal Abuse: Animalist Bloc Calls for End to Public Funding<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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A diverse group of lawmakers announced the formation of a Animalist Bloc in Congress<\/strong> amid growing controversy following remarks made by Minister of Sport Natalia Duco<\/strong>, who described rodeo as a national sport.<\/p>\n

Deputy Valentina C\u00e1ceres<\/strong> from the O\u2019Higgins region firmly stated that \u00abrodeo is abuse and should not be defended by the Government,\u00bb as reported by El Rancag\u00fcino<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The legislator also criticized the withdrawal of regulations from the so-called \u201cCholito Law,\u201d warning that \u00abthese are not isolated events, but clear signals regarding a lack of commitment to animal protection and welfare from the Executive branch.\u00bb<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Deputy Sebasti\u00e1n Videla<\/strong> characterized Minister Duco\u2019s<\/strong> comments as \u00abunacceptable and disconnected from the respect that citizens demand towards animals,\u00bb as reported by Prensa Chilena.<\/p>\n

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The lawmaker argued that such positions reflect a lack of sensitivity regarding animal welfare and should not be normalized by the State. During the press conference, current Miss World Chile, Ignacia Fern\u00e1ndez; writer, actress, and prominent animal rights activist, Eliana Albasetti, along with representatives from Animal Defense and Rights<\/strong>, participated to support the initiative and emphasize the call for increased animal protection.<\/p>\n

From the Animal Libre organization<\/strong>, strong backing for the initiative was expressed, stating that \u00abinstitutionalized abuse no longer has a free path.\u00bb The group presented survey data: \u201c67% of people oppose rodeo. 74% confirm and consider it constitutes animal abuse. 69% demand it stop being funded with public resources.\u201d These figures, they assert, debunk the narrative of rodeo supporters and highlight the urgency of legal evolution that recognizes animals as sentient beings.<\/p>\n

Animal Libre emphasized the statements made by Ignacia Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, who made a \u201cdirect and necessary appeal to the public to not support, not attend, and not be complicit in rodeo.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Deputy C\u00e1ceres also questioned President Jos\u00e9 Antonio Kast\u2019s track record on this issue, recalling his vote against the Cholito Law when he was a deputy, and asserted that the bloc aims to strengthen legislative initiatives. \u201cWe will insist more strongly on promoting initiatives that allow us to move toward eliminating practices we find unacceptable, such as dog racing, especially with greyhounds, where abuse has been widely documented,\u201d the parliamentarian concluded.<\/p>\n

The lawmaker affirmed that she will continue to advocate for measures aimed at protecting animal welfare, emphasizing that \u00abshe will not remain silent in the face of abuse situations.\u00bb<\/p>\n

The reactivation of this space in Congress, as described by Animal Libre, \u201cmarks a point of no return,\u201d as the bloc seeks to abolish through legislation what, according to its proponents, citizens have already rejected in the streets and at the polls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n