Renewables entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme announced his candidacy for the presidency of Real Madrid, marking the first challenge to Florentino Perez’s leadership in over 20 years. Riquelme expressed that this is a historic moment for the club, as fans will finally have the chance to vote for a new president. He invited fans to consider his vision for a better future for the club.
Riquelme submitted his candidacy papers at Real Madrid’s facilities, with the club’s Electoral Commission scheduled to verify his documentation. If approved, elections will be held on June 7. Perez, 79, called for this election despite still having two years left in his term, following a disappointing season without any trophies. Rival team Barcelona retained the LaLiga title, and Real Madrid faced internal issues, including player conflicts and the firing of manager Xabi Alonso.
Before Riquelme’s announcement, Perez promoted his presidency with a large banner celebrating his achievements. Riquelme, founder of Cox Energy, a solar power company, stated that the club requires a more democratic process and should balance experience with new ideas. To run for president, he met strict requirements, including being a club member for 20 years and securing a bank guarantee amounting to 15% of Real’s budget, which he arranged through Andbank.
Since taking office in 2000, Perez has been a dominant figure in Real Madrid, winning five elections unopposed since returning in 2009.
With information from Reuters
