By Our Correspondent
National News – Joan Laporta has been re-elected as president of FC Barcelona after securing more than 68 percent of the votes in the club’s latest presidential election, giving him another five-year mandate that will begin on July 1, 2026.
His closest challenger, Victor Font, obtained close to 30 percent of the votes, while a small fraction of ballots were declared invalid or void.
The victory marks Laporta’s second consecutive term and the fourth time he has been chosen to lead the Spanish football giants.
The 63-year-old previously served as Barcelona president between 2003 and 2010, a period widely remembered for the appointment of Pep Guardiola as head coach and the club’s rise to global football dominance.
Speaking after the election results were confirmed, Laporta expressed strong confidence in the future of the club.
He told supporters that Barcelona would continue moving forward with renewed ambition and determination, adding that the coming years promise excitement for the team, its members, and its global fan base.
Laporta also outlined key priorities for his new term, including strengthening the first team squad and completing the long-awaited redevelopment of the iconic Camp Nou stadium.
The renovation project is expected to modernise the stadium and increase its capacity while boosting Barcelona’s commercial and matchday revenue.
The election recorded a turnout of about 42.34 percent, with nearly 48,500 registered club members participating in the vote.
Barcelona operates under a membership-owned structure, meaning that its supporters have the power to elect the club’s president and influence major decisions.
Despite facing financial challenges in recent years, Barcelona have experienced a strong season on the pitch.
The club recently claimed a domestic treble and currently sits four points ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.
Attention now shifts to European competition, where Barcelona are preparing for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 clash against Newcastle United.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the tie delicately balanced ahead of the decisive encounter.
With Laporta remaining in charge, Barcelona supporters will be watching closely to see how the club navigates financial recovery while maintaining its competitiveness at the highest level of world football.
