BARCELONA PRESIDENT LAPORTA RESIGNS FROM POSITION TO SEEK RE-ELECTION

Barcelona announced on Monday that Joan Laporta had resigned as president to run for reelection, beginning a 35-day countdown to the March 15 elections. In accordance with club laws, Laporta, who assumed office in March 2021 after receiving 54% of the vote, resigned after almost five years in control. For the next three and a half months, Vice President Rafa Yuste will serve as president.

Attorney Laporta hopes to regain the position at the polls and take office again on July 1. He is generally considered the favourite to defeat long-time adversary Victor Font. Economist Marc Ciria, who is running for the first time in a Barcelona election, and former club executive Xavier Vilajoana have also declared their intention to run.

Voting is open to about 100,000 Barcelona members who are of legal age and have been members for at least a year. Barcelona said that, in an effort to boost turnout, the election will once more be placed at several locations. The club's facilities, as well as the provincial capitals of Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida in Catalonia, as well as Andorra la Vella, will all have polling places.

In spite of opposition candidates' appeals, the club stated that postal voting would not be allowed. "This was implemented on an exceptional basis in the 2021 elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic," a statement from Barcelona stated.

Of the 55,000 members who cast ballots in the 2021 election, over 20,000 did so by mail. Laporta has led the team through a period of upheaval and change throughout his most recent tenure. After Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain, the squad is now defending their La Liga and Copa del Rey championships and looking to make a comeback in Europe after making it to the Champions League semifinals the previous season.

Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old from La Masia whose ascent Laporta has observed from the stands, has joined the team.

After two and a half years away for renovations, Barcelona made its comeback to Camp Nou in November. Although capacity is still limited due to ongoing maintenance and delays, the team's return has given supporters new hope under German coach Hansi Flick, whose offensive approach has won them over.