Joan Laporta has maintained his position as Barcelona’s president after the just-ended club election. He beat his contender, Victor Font, after securing 32,934 of the 48,480 votes from the club’s members (socios), while Font received 14,385 votes, 984 were left blank, and 177 were declared void.

This means that he will continue as the president of the club until 2031. In his thank-you message, he said,

“First of all, I want to dedicate a few words of gratitude to this wonderful club we have. It’s great to see that members can still choose who represents us. This passion is a joy, it makes the club special, so thanks to Barça and all the members that voted today in a display of democracy”, Laporta said after his victory.

He continued with a pledge to make the next five years the best of their lives for all club members.

“The result itself is conclusive, and it gives us a lot of strength, so much strength that it will make us unstoppable. We will keep defending Barcelona against everything and everyone. The upcoming years will be thrilling. They will be the best of our lives,” he added.

With 114,504 members eligible to vote, Barca said, from the results they saw, just a turnout of 42.34%, Barça said, with 114,504 members eligible to take part in the election.

Current and former presidents, coaches and players were among those to cast their ballot at Spotify Camp Nou, including Hansi Flick and members of the men’s first team squad.

Sunday’s election coincided with Barça’s 5-2 win over Sevilla in LaLiga, with coach Flick and many players, including Raphinha, Pedri and Dani Olmo, submitting their votes after the victory.

“I won’t tell you who [I will vote for] because it’s a secret,” Flick said in a news conference shortly before voting. “It’s a special day. I saw it on the television in my office in the stadium, the election going on, it’s special. I think everyone is happy. It was a great day.”

During the elections, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is on loan at Girona, couldn’t vote because his name was not on the electoral register.

All Barça players are made members when they join the club, but it is their responsibility to update their membership, which the German international had not done ahead of the election.

Injured Barça Femení players Aitana Bonmatí and Laia Aleixandri also voted, although the majority of their teammates could not as they played away at Deportivo de La Coruña on Sunday.

Former Barça coach Xavi Hernández also voted, just days after calling Laporta a “liar” for his role in Lionel Messi’s failed return to the club in 2023, as did ex-Inter Miami CF midfielder Sergio Busquets. Spotify Camp Nou was one of five polling stations set up on the day, with members also able to vote in Tarragona, Girona, Lleida and Andorra.

Laporta resigned before March election...why?

Joan Laporta stepped down as president of FC Barcelona. His resignation was in line with the club’s statutes, which required that the incumbent president and any board members wishing to re-contest in elections first resign from their positions.

Article 42 of the club’s statutes was intended to ensure that the electoral process was fair, preventing sitting officials from using their authority or resources to gain an advantage.

The club was set to hold its election on March 15, and following Laporta’s resignation, a management commission was expected to oversee the day-to-day running of the club in the interim.

The commission was to be led by Rafa Yuste, who had been one of Laporta’s vice presidents since his election in 2021.

Laporta was expected to contest the presidency with Víctor Font, Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Camprubí, all of whom had announced their candidacies.

As part of the requirements to qualify as candidates for the presidency, all aspirants were expected to secure 2,321 signatures from club members as proof of support for their candidacy.

The campaign trail was then expected to begin in earnest, with key issues likely to influence voters including potential summer signings, the club’s finances, the redevelopment of Spotify Camp Nou, which was in its final stages, and any future role for Lionel Messi at the club.

Laporta had been elected in 2021 for a second spell as Barça president, having previously held the role between 2003 and 2010 after winning elections in 2003 and 2006.

He had finished ahead of Font five years earlier, securing 30,184 votes to Font’s 16,679, while Toni Freixa, who did not run in that election, finished third with 4,769 votes.