Real Madrid presidential election opens, candidacies accepted until 23 May | OneFootball

Real Madrid's electoral board has formally called elections for club president and board, activating the timetable two days after a request from Florentino Pérez and his directors. The club said in a statement that the process begins immediately and will end with either the incumbent's re-election or the proclamation of a new president.

Members can file candidacies from this Thursday until Saturday 23 May, the day Madrid finish their La Liga season by hosting Athletic at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Candidacies are validated the next day if criteria are met. The president must be a member for 20 years, Spanish, and, with the slate, guarantee 15% of the budget, this time 187 million. Directors need 10 years' membership, 15 for vice presidents.

If more than one candidate, the vote must be called within 15 days of 23 May, so Sunday 7 June would be the deadline. A sole candidacy would be proclaimed at the end of the initial window.

That timing clashes with the visit of Pope León XIV. He will celebrate mass at Cibeles on the Sunday, then on Monday 8 meet worshippers at the Bernabéu, which will also host a concert with David Bustamente, Daniel Diges and Diana Navarro. Valdebebas is another possible polling site.

Florentino Pérez has said he and his board will run. The question is whether Enrique Riquelme will stand after asking Pérez in a public letter for more time, a request the incumbent dismissed as the process was already active.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo