“These will be the best years of our lives,” says Laporta after Barça election victory | OneFootball

Joan Laporta will serve as Barcelona president until 2031 after claiming election victory on Sunday.

48,480 socis i sòcies voted at polling stations across Catalunya, with 68.18% of them casting their ballots for a 63-year-old Laporta.

Speaking at the Auditori 1899 shortly after midnight in Catalunya, Laporta thanked those who voted and said: “This marvellous club that we have at Barça, where the socis i sòcies still vote to decide who will represent them and in this case who will be the president and board of directors. This is unique in the world, this passion for Barcelonisme.

“Thanks to Barça, and also to all the socis i sòcies who voted because this is a club that votes.

“It was, for me, a festival of democracy.”

Laporta also took the opportunity to thank those “who haven’t formed part of the elected Board of Directors, but have been helping us as if they were.”

The 63-year-old called for a round of applause for the defeated Victor Font, but rejected his opponent’s idea of “confrontation and division,” instead suggesting that “a very big majority voted for our proposal that together we will defend Barça against anything and everything.”

“It’s a display of support for the work we’ve done.

“This result is forceful, very strong. It gives us so much strength, it makes us unstoppable.

“For all the Barcelonistes, these will be the best years of our lives.

“Long live Barça, and long live Catalunya,” he concluded to rapturous applause.

Victor Font secured 29.78% of the vote, finishing as runner-up for the second successive election. He conceded victory earlier in the night and admitted “we didn’t get the result we were hoping for.

“It’s a shame but obviously we accept the result,” he added.