According to a report from *Diario Sport*, Florentino Perez has announced the initiation of a new Real Madrid presidential election, though no specific date has been set. Under the club’s statutes, if only one valid candidate list is submitted, Perez will automatically be re-elected. If multiple candidates come forward, voting is expected to take place between May 25 and June 9.
Perez made the announcement during what was described as one of the most surreal press conferences in recent years. Despite the team’s poor form and the club’s ongoing crisis, the Real Madrid president adopted a defiant tone, challenging his critics to submit candidacies and compete against him. He launched an unusually aggressive defense of the club, hit back at reporters, and criticized Barcelona and the “Negreira case” with unprecedented intensity. This marked one of the most combative statements of his long tenure.
“Unfortunately, I will not resign,” Perez said at the start of the press conference. “I have asked the electoral commission to start the election process, and the current board will participate. This is a campaign orchestrated by bad journalists against Real Madrid. I must stand up for the club, so we are moving ahead with the election.”
Explaining his decision, he added: “Since 2000, I have worked toward one goal: ensuring Real Madrid truly belongs to its members, not falling into other hands like other clubs. The current situation is absurd. Some people are trying to create an atmosphere against Real Madrid, especially against me, through a series of media offensives. They are attacking me personally based on the current circumstances. My health is excellent, and I don’t know where these rumors come from.”
When will the election be held? The exact date remains unconfirmed, but Perez indicated it could be 10 to 15 days before the process formally begins. According to club rules, once the electoral process is triggered, candidates have 10 calendar days to submit their lists. Each list must include at least nine board members, along with certified signatures and a bank guarantee equivalent to 15% of the club’s budget.
If only one valid list is submitted, no voting will take place. If two or more lists are presented, a voting date must be set within 15 days after the final list is published. Under this timeline, the vote could fall between May 25 and June 9. If multiple lists trigger a vote, the new president will be elected in about three weeks. If no other valid lists emerge, Perez could secure re-election in as few as 13 days.
Requirements for candidates include Spanish nationality (to prevent foreign takeovers like at Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City), legal adulthood, full capacity, and at least 20 years of continuous membership for the president. Vice presidents need 15 years, and other board members require 10 years. Candidates cannot hold management bans, work for other football clubs, or be active players, referees, or coaches.
The most controversial requirement is the bank guarantee: candidates must provide a guarantee worth at least 15% of the club’s annual expenditure, currently around €187 million, based solely on personal assets.