After an eight-year absence, the Eibar City Council has reintroduced sokamuturra as part of its patron saint festivities. This decision has generated considerable social backlash, prompting animal welfare groups to file a motion to cancel the three planned events, supported by EH Bildu, Elkarrekin Podemos, and the PNV. The proposal will be debated in an extraordinary plenary session on Thursday, June 18th, where political groups will define their stance on an issue that intertwines tradition, citizen participation, animal welfare, safety, and the organization of festive events.
The debate surrounding sokamuturra's place in festival programs is not new to Gipuzkoa. While in some municipalities the tradition of the tethered bull remains an essential fixture, in others it has been absent for decades after being eradicated. Azpeitia is one of the towns where sokamuturra has deep roots, drawing large crowds for races in front of young bulls during both the San Sebastián festival and Carnival, and even extending to neighborhoods.
Tolosa also maintains sokamuturra during its popular Carnival celebrations, and towns like Villabona and Alegia incorporate it into their summer festivities. In Hernani, sokamuturra has its own space during the San Juan festivities, albeit in a reduced format following a controversy over its potential elimination due to animal protection concerns.
In the Bajo Deba region, sokamuturra is well-established. Elgoibar features it for three days during its San Bartolomé festivities. Mutriku celebrates it during the Madalenas and Kalbarios festivals, while Deba reserves it for the Sunday of the Día del Debarra festivities and also includes other events with bulls. In Soraluze, while technically not sokamuturra, there are two days of 'uncorded' bull releases.
Pasaia Donibane is another regular participant, though last year's incident where a bull fell into the water is remembered. Oiartzun added sokamuturra to its patron saint festivities last year. Irun, however, ceased organizing them decades ago due to rising insurance costs. In contrast, Hondarribia enjoys strong popular support for the tradition, celebrated multiple times a year without controversy.
The patron saint festivals in Oñati also include sokamuturra, as do those in Bergara and Aretxabaleta. In the Alto Urola region, the tradition is less prevalent, although Urretxu revived it last year and it is likely to continue. Zumarraga has not organized sokamuturra for over forty years, but the town will participate in the 'El Grand Prix del Verano' television show, showcasing its tradition with bulls.
In Eibar, the reintroduction of sokamuturras into the festival program follows a request from several youth groups to Mayor Jon Iraola. However, the opposition (Elkarrekin Podemos, EH Bildu, and the PNV) has called for an extraordinary plenary session to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, an animal rights group has organized a protest against it, while another group of cuadrillas has called for a demonstration in favor.
It is noteworthy that the Eibar City Council approved two legislative terms ago to change the use of the bullring for sports purposes and to not organize bullfights. Consequently, sokamuturra has emerged as a request to be held at 8:00 AM during the San Juan festivities, but in the plaza.
