Spanish MPs have voted to give bullfighting special cultural status - Tuesday Feb 12,2013

Spanish MPs have voted to consider giving bullfighting special cultural status - a move that could overturn regional bans on the age-old tradition.

In a 180-40 vote, the parliament backed a petition signed by 590,000 people.

On Tuesday Feb 12,2013, the popular petition was easily backed in parliament, where the governing conservative Popular Party (PP) has a majority. 

Under the proposal, bullfighting would be promoted by the authorities who would also push the UN to recognise it as part of Spain's cultural heritage.

If the idea becomes law, it may roll back the ban in Spain's regions of Catalonia and the Canary Islands.Bullfighting was banned last year in Catalonia, in the north-east, with supporters of the measure describing the blood-soaked pageants as barbaric.