“This is a tax assault through an unconstitutional and illegal act of censorship,” Protoiro said in a press release.
The secretary-general of the federation, Hélder Milheiro, said in the note that the socialist government does not want to know about the subject of VAT - the hidden agenda is to try to ban bullfighting, but there is no political courage to admit it.
Protoiro warned that, if the measure is implemented, the increase in VAT would be a real blow for this sector, with an economic cycle closely linked to depressed regions and the interior, which is driven by more than 2.5 million people in various forms of bullfighting.
According to the federation, the proposal delivered in parliament violates the Constitution, by calling into question the principle of equality and the fundamental values included in the right to culture, but the government wants to feed small extremist groups.
If the proposal is not withdrawn from the budget, Protoiro will consider using all the judicial options at its disposal to defend the rights and freedoms of the Portuguese in this matter, the communiqué said.
According to the budget proposal, bullfighting is no longer included in point 2.32 of List I annexed to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Code, which relates to 6 percent. That point includes entries into zoos, botanical gardens and public aquariums.
As there is no reference in the document to a change from bullfighting to the intermediate rate (13 percent), this activity is automatically included in the list of goods and services subject to the maximum rate (23 percent).
The government programme, approved at the cabinet meeting on 26 October, included a measure to increase the minimum age for access to bullfighting, which currently stands at 12 years old.
The executive’s goal of raising the minimum age for bullfighting, possibly to 16 years, is included in the chapter of the government programme dedicated to consumer protection measures.
The legislation in force, namely a decree of February 2014, stated that artistic performances and public entertainment are subject to age classification, and bullfighting is for those over the age of 12.