Barcelona presidential race kicks off as signature hunt begins
Laporta, Font, Vilajoana and Ciria enter the fray for Barça's top job with a month to go until elections, as the battle for member signatures intensifies.
The race for Barcelona’s presidency heats up as pre-candidates scramble for support from club members with just one month until polling day.
Signature scramble begins
With Barcelona’s electoral commission now formally established this weekend, the four presidential hopefuls have wasted no time in requesting official ballot papers to gather the required signatures from club members (socios).
The club’s statutes require each pre-candidate to collect 2,337 valid signatures by March 3rd to officially qualify for the election. The official candidates will then be announced two days later on March 5th.
The four men vying for the Barcelona hot seat are:
- Joan Laporta - Former president looking to return for another stint
- Víctor Font - Prominent businessman and long-time critic of previous administrations
- Xavier Vilajoana - Former director under Bartomeu
- Marc Ciria - Financial expert and economist
Ballot bonanza
The pre-candidates have requested eye-watering numbers of ballot papers, revealing their confidence and campaign strategies:
- Víctor Font has requested 50,000 ballots
- Xavier Vilajoana has asked for 30,000
- Joan Laporta is expected to request 60,000
- Marc Ciria plans to request a more modest 10,000
It’s worth noting that Barcelona provides the first 5,000 ballots free of charge, with additional papers requiring payment. Bit of a liberty if you ask me!
Campaign countdown
While the signature hunt officially begins now, pre-candidates are still waiting to physically receive their ballot papers, expected to arrive on Monday. They’ll then establish campaign headquarters across Catalonia to convince socios to back their presidential bids.
Two key dates stand out in the diary for signature collection - February 22nd and 28th - when Barcelona play home fixtures against Levante and Villarreal at Spotify Camp Nou. These match days provide golden opportunities to connect with thousands of potential signatories in one location.
Meanwhile, Joan Laporta plans to formally launch his campaign this Tuesday at his headquarters. The former president will deliver his first official message as a pre-candidate, looking to trade on his previous successful tenure at the club.
The presidential race represents a crucial moment for Barcelona as they navigate financial difficulties while attempting to rebuild their sporting project. The outcome will shape the club’s direction for years to come.