Quick elections are Perez's strategy to win again
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Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 14.05.26. | 18:45
Other candidates have only nine days to get the documentation required and submit it
The elections have been called. Florentino Perez will probably win them — at least that is how it looks at first glance, because it is hard to imagine the current president losing power so easily at the world’s biggest club. That is why, after several days of media activity, the official electoral process has now begun, one that could ultimately turn out to be a race against himself. Real Madrid CF officially announced on Thursday that the electoral process for president and members of the Board of Directors had begun, all in accordance with the club’s statutes. However, considering that Florentino decided to trigger the mechanism at this particular moment, the deadline for anyone to “challenge” him is so narrow that any opponent — if one even emerges — will have to act quickly and almost flawlessly in order to topple an empire built over two decades.
The deadline for submitting candidacies runs from today until May 23, which means that the candidates — and besides Florentino, the only name regularly mentioned in public is Enrique Riquelme — will have to move immediately, above all to gather the required documentation and submit it to the club authorities. Within those ten days, a presidential candidate must provide documents proving they have been a club member for more than 20 years and that they have deposited a financial guarantee worth several million euros, equivalent to 15 percent of the club’s budget. Both Florentino and Riquelme are capable of doing that, but in practice Perez is in the stronger position, although the influence and “support base” of his rival should not be underestimated.
🚨🗣️ Enrique Riquelme (the opponent Florentino Perez dared for elections): "Real Madrid are not in the best of shape right now."
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) May 13, 2026
"The elections were scheduled for 2028 and it was decided for them to take place faster."
"As a Madridista, I'll always be available for Real Madrid.… pic.twitter.com/hGpq6robWI
It should be remembered that Riquelme is a successful businessman whose father once served on the Board of Directors under former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon. That is the faction also supported by Predrag Mijatović, the former Real Madrid star and sporting director who is now vice president of FK Partizan. In theory, Riquelme meets all the requirements, both financially and in terms of his years as a club member, but even Mijatović reportedly advised him that now may not be the right time to challenge Florentino because there is very little time for a campaign.
Simply put, the electoral process in some ways favors the person already in power. That is why it remains unclear whether Enrique Riquelme will even manage to formalize his candidacy over the next ten days. Once that deadline expires on May 23, the body known as the Electoral Board will review the submitted candidacies, which is actually the key stage of the process. If only one candidacy arrives — and it is already assumed that Perez’s will — then there will not even be a vote. That candidate would immediately be declared the winner and president of Real Madrid.
On the other hand, if within the next ten days Riquelme or someone else fulfills all the conditions, gathers the documentation, and submits everything properly and on time, only then would real elections take place. In that case, all club members — the famous socios — would be called upon to vote on the candidacies. The voting period can last up to 15 days. Consequently, if a vote is held, Real Madrid could officially get either a new or returning president on June 7. Finally, appeals are also possible, although only in the event that none of the candidacies are considered valid. In that scenario, an extraordinary General Assembly would be convened to decide on the next steps. Still, that outcome currently seems highly unlikely.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 36
Tuesday
Celta - Levante 2-3 (1-1)
/Jutglà 48, 4 - Arriaga 43, Fuente 57, Brugue 63/
Betis - Elche 2-1 (1-1)
/Hernandez 9, Fornals 68 - Fort 41/
Osasuna - Atl.Madrid 1-2(0-1)
/Barja 90+1 - Lookman 15(p), Sorloth 71/
Wednesday
Espanyol - Athletic Bilbao 2-0 (0-0)
/Milla 69, Garcia 90+2/
Villarreal - Sevilla 2-3 (2-2)
/Moreno 13, Mikautadze 20 - Oso 36, Salas 45+2, Adams 72/
Alaves - Barcelona 1-0 (1-0)
/Diabate 45+1/
Getafe - Mallorca 3-1 (2-0)
/Satriano 14, 41, Romero 63 - Mascarell 65/
Thursday
20.00: (2.25) Valencia (3.40) Rayo Vallecano (3.20)
21.00: (2.15) Girona (3.45) Sociedad (3.35)
22.30: (1.25) Real Madrid (6.50) Oviedo (10.5)
***odds are subject to change***