The Catalan giants have a democratic tradition in electing their figurehead, with club members all casting a ballot to replace the outgoing president. – By Madellene Markit.
The motto of Barcelona is ‘Mes Que Un Club’ and it is etched into the amphitheatre of Camp Nou as a reminder to the world that the Catalan outfit is about more than just football.
Indeed, the club occupies a special place at the heart of the Barcelona community and, historically, it has conducted its business somewhat differently to many of its counterparts in Spain and elsewhere.
While most supporters of the club across the world will more or less stop at following their on-field fortunes or buying the shirt, others become members and they are very much hands-on.
The members have an equal say in the direction the club travels in through the presidential elections.
The date of the next Barcelona presidential election will take place on March 7, 2021, having previously been slated for January 24 but then delayed once again.
The electoral campaign was due to officially begin on January 15 and run until January 22 – which would have taken proceedings up to two days before the original date of the election.
An individual who has been elected Barcelona president earns a mandate to serve in the post for six years. That means elections take place every six years, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Ex-president Josep Bartomeu did not seek re-election in 2021, and resigned in October ahead of the end of his tenure next year.
Lionel Messi cited a long-standing dispute with the Bartomeu as well as his unhappiness at the way the club was being run and his lack of faith in Barcelona’s future: “I told the club, including the president, that I wanted to go. I’ve been telling him that all year. I believed it was time to step aside.
“I believed that the club needed more young players, new players and I thought my time in Barcelona was over. I felt very sorry because I always said that I wanted to finish my career here.”
There are now just three remaining candidates for the role of Barcelona president. They are: Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa.
Laporta, who previously served as Barcelona president from 2003 until 2010, received the most signatures backing his candidacy, followed by Font, then Freixa.
Jordi Farre, Xavier Vilajoana, Agusti Benedito, Luis Fernandez Ala and Pere Riera had been removed from the race after failing to meet the threshold of 2,257 signatures.
