Real Madrid fires starting gun on leadership, board elections

Madrid, Apr 1 (efe-epa).- Real Madrid’s president Florentino Pérez has asked the club to prepare for elections for the presidency and the board of directors, according to a statement Thursday.

“Following on from today’s board meeting and in accordance with article 38, section b of the Real Madrid C. F. social statutes, the President has requested that the Electoral Board issue the call for elections for the President and Board of Directors,” the statement said.

Pérez was most recently elected president of Real Madrid on 19 June 2017. He ran unopposed to secure his fifth term at the helm of the Spanish giants.

That year, he officially resumed office days after Real Madrid bagged a double, with a historic 33rd LaLiga title and a 12th Champions League trophy, along with the European Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.

Pérez has run unopposed since he began his second stint in charge in 2009. In total, the businessman has served as president of the club for more than 17 years (the first period began in 2000 and finished in 2006).

There are still no candidates for the new elections for the presidency of Real Madrid. Club members have not voted since 2006, when Ramón Calderón won.

To be an official candidate, you must have been a member of the club for at least 20 years and contribute at least 15% of Real Madrid’s budget.

Businessman Enrique Riquelme, owner of company Cox Energy and a board member with Ramón Calderón and Vicente Boluda, interim president in 2009, has expressed in recent months his willingness to stand in the elections, although he has not specified if it would happen now or in four years time.

If there are two or more candidates, the elections for a new term of four years, until 2025, could be held at the end of June. EFE-EPA

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