Barcelona , Spain ( CNN ) -- The deep-rooted Spanish tradition of bullfighting is under fire in Barcelona and its region of Catalonia , where the regional parliament will vote on Wednesday whether to ban the fights . If approved , Catalonia would become the first region in mainland Spain to outlaw bullfighting , and some see it as a slap in the face to the rest of the country . Enrique Guillen , 24 , laments that he might be the last Barcelona-born bullfighter to take the `` alternativa , '' or ceremonial fight in the ring against the biggest bulls to become a full-fledged matador , which he did last year at Barcelona 's sole remaining bullring , the Monumental . Guillen 's father worked at the bullring , opening the doors for bulls to charge in to face matadors and their death . `` My father brought me to see the bullfights when I still had a pacifier , '' Guillen said . `` It would be frustrating not to be able to give to my children what my parents gave to me . '' But activist Aida Gascon , of the Anti-Bullfighting Party , known as PACMA , looks beyond the tradition and sees animal cruelty . She says she 's attended just one bullfight in her life , and that was only to get a sense of the bull 's suffering , which she depicted in a painting that hangs in her living room . `` Bullfighting is part of Spanish culture , '' Gascon said . `` But that should change . Many traditions disappear as the society advances . '' The number of bullfights across Spain has dropped by one-third in recent years , due mostly to budget constraints of local governments , which often fund the spectacles . In Catalonia , there are now just over a dozen fights a year and the Monumental bullring in Barcelona is about the only place in the region that still holds fights . But Luis Corrales and his pro-bullfight group , known as PPDF , released a study predicting big economic losses for Catalonia if bullfighting is banned . This would mainly result , he says , because the Catalan government would have to pay damages to the bullfighting industry , which holds long-term operating licenses . `` When the Catalan government and the opposition are working hard to trim the budget , how could they justify making big indemnity payments to the bullfighting industry , when it 's not necessary , '' Corrales said . But critics disagree , saying the economic impact would be minimal , given the small number of fights still held in Catalonia . Either way , the Catalan parliament bullfight vote is being watched not only in Spain , but abroad , where many have a fascination with bullfighting . The proposal to ban bullfighting started as a popular initiative in Catalonia and was accepted for consideration by parliament last year by a slim margin of votes . Since then , there has been an ever-intensifying debate , with bullfighting proponents and opponents gathering support from across Spain , even from abroad . Most analysts predict that the vote on Wednesday will be very close . The two largest parties in parliament , the ruling Socialists and the opposition Catalan nationalists , or CiU , have given their members of parliament freedom to vote their conscience . Some smaller parties on the left are expected to vote for the ban while the conservative Popular Party is expected to support continuing the tradition . The ban , if approved , would take effect in January 2012 and would not end bullfighting in the rest of Spain . It still has a strong following in Madrid and in the south around Seville . Spain 's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean already does not allow bullfighting , but a ban in Catalonia would be considered a bigger blow to the tradition . Some analysts say that Catalan nationalism , including the desire by some in the Barcelona area for independence from Spain , also is playing a role in the vote , as well as the upcoming regional elections for parliament later this year . But the main bullfighting proponents and opponents say the root issue is a clear line in the sand : tradition vs. protection of animals . The Catalan parliament vote is expected by 1 p.m. ( 7 a.m . ET ) Wednesday .
Catalonia would become the first region of mainland Spain to ban bullfights . Only one bullfight ring remains in Barcelona , with about a dozen fights a year . `` Many traditions disappear as the society advances , '' ban backer says . Economic impact would be painful , bullfight booster argues .