Laporta steps down as Barcelona president to seek re-election in March

Tuesday 10 February 2026 - 18:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Laporta steps down as Barcelona president to seek re-election in March

FC Barcelona has formally opened its presidential election process after incumbent president Joan Laporta resigned in order to run for another term, triggering the ninth member-led vote in the club’s history. Club members are scheduled to go to the polls on March 15 to decide who will lead one of world football’s most prominent institutions for the next five years.

Laporta’s resignation was confirmed during a board meeting on Monday and complies with Article 42.f of the club’s statutes, which requires a sitting president to step down before standing for re-election. Vice-president Rafa Yuste has assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations and will oversee the electoral process as interim president until June 30.

The election field is expected to be competitive despite Laporta entering the race as the frontrunner. At least four pre-candidates have declared their intention to run. Víctor Font, who finished second in the 2021 election with roughly 30 percent of the vote compared with Laporta’s 54 percent, is considered the strongest challenger. Font’s campaign gained momentum in November when former Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández publicly endorsed his candidacy during a campaign launch event.

Other declared candidates include Xavier Vilajoana, a former club executive and construction company chief executive who failed to secure enough signatures in 2021, Marc Ciria, a sports economist making his first bid for the presidency, and Joan Camprubí, a technology executive whose family has historical ties to the club’s leadership during the Franco era, with both his great-grandfather and grandfather having served as presidents.

To appear on the March 15 ballot, candidates must first collect 2,321 valid signatures from club members, representing at least half of the delegates from the most recent general assembly. The nomination period runs from February 23 to March 2, followed by signature verification between March 3 and March 5. The official campaign period is set for March 6 to March 13, with a mandatory day of electoral silence on March 14.

Voting will take place at five polling stations across Catalonia and Andorra, including the Camp Nou in Barcelona and designated venues in Girona, Tarragona and Lleida, as well as Andorra la Vella. Around 110,000 adult members who have maintained their membership for at least one year are eligible to vote. Unlike the 2021 election, which was held under COVID-19 restrictions, postal voting will not be permitted.

The election comes at a pivotal time for the club. Barcelona is defending its Liga and Copa del Rey titles while also nearing completion of the final phases of the Spotify Camp Nou renovation project, developments that add further significance to the leadership decision members will make in March.