Breaking News: Joan Laporta Resigns as Barcelona President

Joan Laporta's declaration to resign as president is not a conclusion, but an essential step in the re-election procedure, initiating the decisive election period for Barcelona.

Barcelona is entering a sensitive institutional moment as it prepares to activate the entire presidential election process for the new term. According to club insiders, next Monday will be a pivotal day when the club officially issues the election call and sees Joan Laporta resign as president in accordance with the statutes.

This is not an unexpected move but a mandatory part of the re-election process. Laporta himself publicly stated this during a meeting with fan clubs in Albacete.

He affirmed: “On the day the election call is announced, some board members, including myself, must resign to participate in the re-election”. The official voting day is scheduled for March 15.

Laporta’s resignation will have significant organizational consequences. Any current board member wishing to appear on Laporta’s re-election list must step down from their executive position beforehand. This rule is designed to ensure fairness, prevent conflicts of interest, and maintain transparency during the campaign.

However, Barcelona must also comply with another legal requirement to avoid being placed under temporary management. According to the statutes, at least one-third of the current board members, meaning at least six people, must remain in office to sustain the club’s daily operations.

During this transition period, the executive power will be assigned to Vice President Rafa Yuste, who will serve as interim president until June 30.

Laporta emphasized that those remaining on the board during the transition are not excluded from his future plans. “If we win the election, they can fully return to the executive board from July 1, when the new term begins”, Laporta shared, indicating this is merely a temporary procedural step.

Alongside the election call, Barcelona will also establish the Electoral Committee and the Voting Office, two bodies responsible for overseeing the entire process. Once the voter list is approved, candidates will enter the phase of collecting supporting signatures to validate their candidacy.

Laporta appeared energetic about the path ahead. “I feel very excited and ready for a model election process, where members can participate fully and candidates present their projects in a spirit of respect”, he said. The current president also stressed his wish to make election day “a true celebration for the Cule community”.

In the context of Barcelona facing numerous challenges both in sports and finance, Laporta’s decision to resign for re-election is more than just an administrative formality. It marks the beginning of an important power race, where the future of the Catalan club will be shaped in the coming weeks.