The complaint regarding a poster showing a bull raping a woman, used as a logo by a club during Sagunt's patron saint festivals, has led to internal division within the municipal government, composed of the PSPV-PSOE and Esquerra Unida-Unides Podem (EU-UP). The neighborhood complaint was conveyed to the town hall at the end of July, at the height of the celebration.
Esquerra Unida (EUPV) has made this division public, stating that its councilor, Roberto Rovira, demanded the "immediate" withdrawal of the "machista" poster from the "Un forat és un forat" club on July 19th, upon learning it was displayed in the bullfighting enclosure. The Equality department, headed by mayor Darío Moreno, requested its removal on the 23rd, but the club argued the logo was present on multiple items and they needed time to find a solution. A working group was agreed upon with the collective to prevent future occurrences and align the image with principles of equality and respect.
EUPV has distanced itself from this decision, emphasizing its demand for "immediate" withdrawal and rejecting any decision that would have allowed the banner to remain until the end of the festivals or postponed the problem's resolution. They consider that a "machista, degrading, and intolerable" representation that "sexualizes, objectifies, and places a woman in a position of submission" cannot be justified as a joke or festive expression, and should never have been allowed in a municipal space open to all citizens and with the presence of minors.
EU has also "particularly strongly" denounced the actions of the Vox municipal group, which posed for photos with members of the club wearing t-shirts with the offensive logo, titling a social media post "¡Apoyando nuestras tradiciones y a nuestras peñas!". According to EU, public officials who pose with such representations "contribute to legitimizing and disseminating it," considering it a "deeply machista policy of the far-right" that denies inequalities and normalizes machismo under the guise of humor or tradition.
The party believes the institutional response "did not live up to the circumstances," as public administrations must guarantee equality with "effective actions" and not just declarations. They regret that the events have projected a "lamentable image" of Sagunt and that the degrading representation remained displayed in a municipal space when it should have been removed. EU proposes establishing "clear mechanisms for prevention, supervision, and immediate intervention" to prevent future sexist content.
Political reactions at regional and local levels have condemned the image. The PSPV-PSOE, PP, and Compromís have all agreed in repudiating the "objectification of women." The Equality Secretariat of the PSPV-PSOE has defended the festivals as "collective identity" but advocated for dialogue with festive entities to incorporate the perspective of equality and review discriminatory symbols, stating that "women's dignity cannot be suspended when the festivals begin."
The PP has demanded that the mayor, Darío Moreno, make a public statement and support the position of the General Directorate of Equality, highlighting the latter's "speed and contundence." Compromís per Sagunt has criticized the mayor for "once again stepping aside" and has called for "bravery" to enforce the law, demanding a working group on equality with the federations of clubs.
