Florentino Pérez wins 2026 Real Madrid election but falls short on reform mandate | OneFootball

Florentino Pérez retained the Real Madrid presidency with 65% of the vote to Enrique Riquelme’s 35%. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the margin leaves his proposed corporate reform short of the two-thirds backing it would require.

He topped all 60 polling tables, yet roughly one in three voters backed Riquelme. Results were declared around 2.30am, with 21,741 votes for Pérez and 11,814 for Riquelme.

Postal ballots were verified first amid challenges from both sides. Riquelme’s camp contested more than 1,000 Pérez votes over a notary seal issue, which did not change his advantage and prolonged the count.

Pérez called it a happy day, described the result as extraordinary and said the club would remain member-owned. He promised unity and to listen to dissenting socios. Riquelme congratulated him, said Madrid is not for sale and vowed to press on.

The snap vote extends Pérez’s tenure beyond 2030 towards three decades, closer to Santiago Bernabéu’s 35 years. Yet some members accuse him of neglecting socios. Riquelme’s late surge prioritised members, recruited Raúl, Hierro, Casillas and Del Bosque, and touted Haaland while sounding out Klopp.

Pérez has confirmed three arrivals, Mourinho, Konaté and Dumfries. The 150 million galáctico he promised is distant, with Neves, Vitinha and Olise not coming. The outcome also challenges his plan to admit foreign investors, widely viewed as a step towards privatisation.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo