Club have announced the start of an election process, and a challenger to Florentino Perez could emerge
Pressure is mounting on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez after the club’s electoral commission officially called presidential elections following a second straight season without a major trophy.
Perez confirmed on Tuesday that he would seek re-election, despite only being reappointed unopposed last year. During a tense 75-minute news conference, the long-serving president accused sections of the media of running what he described as an orchestrated campaign against both him and the club.
The 79-year-old has led Madrid since 2000, apart from a three-year break after resigning in 2006, and has not faced an opponent in the club’s last five presidential elections.
What has happened over the past week?
Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in last weekend’s clásico confirmed Barcelona as La Liga champions and ensured Madrid would finish a second consecutive campaign without major silverware for the first time in two decades.
Perez spoke to Spanish television on Wednesday and admitted the 2025-26 season had fallen below expectations. However, he also tried to bring up some mitigating factors, first mentioning a shortened preseason caused by the Club World Cup and then also criticising refereeing decisions during the campaign.
Perez said he was angry and tired of “manipulation” from the media. He also promised new signings in the summer transfer window but refrained from confirming whether Jose Mourinho would be brought back to the club next season. Instead he praised the Portuguese’s impact during his previous three-year tenure at the club.
Mourinho is one of the leading candidates to take over from Alvaro Arbeloa this summer ahead of next season, and the club are reportedly already in talks with his representatives, even if both Mourinho and Perez have tactfully avoided any confirmation.
What is happening around the elections?
The official presidential election timeline began on Thursday but the exact date for members to cast their votes depends on whether a challenger emerges to run against Perez.
The criteria to become a candidate are quite stringent. Under Madrid’s rules, presidential candidates must be Spanish nationals, have held club membership (socio) for at least 20 years, and provide a personal bank guarantee worth 15% of the club’s annual budget, which currently amounts to approximately €187m.
There is a potential challenger to Perez in the form of businessman and club member Enrique Riquelme, who Madrid’s president himself previously mentioned as a likely contender. Riquelme spoke on Wednesday and said he would “decide in the next few days if we accept the challenge”.
Candidates have until 23 May to formally submit their candidacies, which must then be approved by the electoral commission before a short two-week campaign period and a members’ vote, although some stakeholders of the club, including Riquelme, have said this period is too short.
In an open letter released on Wednesday, Riquelme called on Perez to extend the electoral process, arguing that it would allow for “real participation” from members and supporters.
