Barcelona to conduct presidential elections on March 15
LaLiga champions Barcelona have scheduled elections for a new president on March 15.
The current president, Joan Laporta, will see his five-year term conclude later this year, but there was some leeway regarding the timing of the elections.
The club had the option to select any date from mid-March to mid-June, but they have chosen the earliest available date while the team remains engaged in multiple competitions.
Alongside Laporta, who is seeking re-election, Víctor Font, Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Camprubí have all declared their intentions to run for the presidency.
However, for their names to appear on the ballot on March 15, they must first collect 2,321 signatures from club members supporting their candidacy.
All four opposing candidates have voiced their disapproval of the decision to conduct the election during the ongoing season.
The chosen date—a Sunday—coincides with the Champions League round of 16, which Barça aims to participate in, and occurs while LaLiga and the Copa del Rey are still in contention.
Sporting results typically play a significant role in influencing member votes.
“It’s clear that the elections have been scheduled at a convenient time for Laporta,” Font, who placed second in the 2021 election, remarked on Thursday.
“However, we anticipated elections occurring during a Champions League tie, so it does not catch us off guard. We are prepared for elections that will be crucial for Barça’s future.”
Laporta stated that the March date is the most “suitable date from both a sporting and institutional perspective” for the elections.
With the date confirmed, Laporta is required to resign in late February prior to the elections, with a management committee appointed to oversee the club’s daily operations in the interim.
Key topics expected to arise in the lead-up to the elections include the club’s financial situation, the redevelopment of Spotify Camp Nou, which is nearing completion, and any potential future involvement of Lionel Messi with the club.
Font has indicated that Messi will be the first person he contacts if he wins the elections, while Ciria has also stated that the Inter Miami forward “must return” to the Spanish champions.
Laporta, who was in office when Messi departed the club, is currently serving his second non-consecutive term as Barça president. He previously held the position from 2003 to 2010, winning elections in 2003 and 2006, and returned to the role in 2021.
Since resuming his position, Barça has secured two LaLiga titles, but the Champions League, which they last won in 2015, remains out of reach.
In contrast, the women’s team has continued to achieve significant success, claiming five Liga F titles and three Champions League titles.
