The competition for the presidency of Barcelona has narrowed to three candidates, with Joan Laporta vying against Víctor Font and Marc Ciria for the top position.
Out of six initial candidates, only Laporta, Font, and Ciria garnered enough support from club members—known as socis—who will cast their votes for the next president on March 15.
Xavier Vilajoana, Daniel Juan, and William Maddock fell short of the required 2,337 signatures to feature on the election ballot.
Laporta distinguished himself by collecting 8,169 signatures, with Font following at 5,144 and Ciria at 2,844.
In contrast, Vilajoana was unable to meet the threshold with 1,593 signatures, while Juan and Maddock secured only 84 and nine, respectively.
Laporta triggered a new election cycle by resigning in February to run again. He first assumed the presidency in 2003 and served until 2010, returning to office in 2021, and is now aiming to prolong his tenure.
Given the team’s recent achievements under coach Hansi Flick, local media suggest Laporta is the frontrunner as members prepare to vote this month.
However, with Font—who was Laporta’s runner-up five years ago—and Ciria gaining notable support, the outcome may not be as certain as previously thought.
The combined total of signatures from Font, Ciria, and Vilajoana surpassed Laporta’s count, raising speculation about a possible unification of the anti-Laporta vote.
As the stage is set, all eyes are on the significant issues likely to shape the next 12 days leading up to the election.
– Hansi Flick: Barcelona need more than Yamal to beat Atlético in Copa
– Yamal is outshining young Ronaldo and Messi. Is Barcelona overly reliant on him?
– Lamine Yamal after his first career hat trick: I’m ‘happy’ again
On-field performances and club stability play crucial roles in Barça’s elections, but other factors such as the club’s financial health, the ongoing renovations at Spotify Camp Nou, potential summer signings, and the future role of Lionel Messi will also be major discussion points as the campaigns ramp up.
Both Font and Ciria have prominently featured the Messi narrative in their campaigns, reminding members that Laporta was the one in charge when the club legend departed—even as a player return remains unlikely.
So far, none of the three candidates have specified potential signings for the upcoming summer—a common strategy during election campaigns—though Vilajoana did mention Harry Kane as a suggestion.