FC Barcelona members are now formally called to the polls. Following the Board of Directors’ decision to hold presidential elections, the official call was published this Monday 9 February, activating the electoral calendar in line with the deadlines set out in the FC Barcelona Statutes, which will lead to voting on 15 March:

  • 9 February: publication of the official call for elections.
  • 10 February: public draw to select the members of the Electoral Board and the Electoral Committee.
  • 13 or 14 February: formal constitution of the Electoral Board and the Electoral Committee.
  • From 15 February: endorsement slips may be requested.
  • 15–19 February: publication of the electoral roll.
  • Between 20 and 22 February: resolution of claims and approval of the final electoral roll.
  • 23 February to 2 March: submission of proposed candidacies.
  • Between 3 and 5 March: counting of endorsements and announcement of candidates who obtain support from at least 50% of the members of the Assembly.
  • 6–13 March: election campaign.
  • 14 March: reflection day.
  • 15 March: voting day.

As for polling stations, the club will set up five voting locations: one in each of the four Catalan provinces — Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona — and another in the Principality of Andorra. The electoral roll will be universal, meaning members may vote at any of these locations regardless of where they live. The specific venues will be announced at a later date.

There will be no postal voting for this election. This procedure was introduced exceptionally in the 2021 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure members have access to full information, the club has also launched a dedicated website with all the details relating to the elections:

With the election date now announced, the Board of Directors will meet this Monday from 10am at an ordinary session to announce the resignation of the direcftors who will be standing for re-election.

The vote on 15 March will be the fifteenth presidential election in the club’s history since 1953, when the first elections were held (with voting restricted to male members), and the ninth to be conducted by universal suffrage.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Presidential elections at FC Barcelona are provided for in the Club Statutes (Section 4) and regulate the appointment of the Board of Directors headed by its President.

1 - Who can vote in the elections?

Members who meet the following conditions are entitled to vote:

a) Be of legal age and not legally incapacitated,
b) Have been a member for at least one year,
c) Not have their membership rights suspended,
d) Be included on the current electoral roll.

2 - Who can stand as a candidate?

Members who meet the following conditions are eligible:

a) Be of legal age and not legally incapacitated,
b) At the time the elections are called, have been a member for at least ten years to stand as president and at least five years to stand as a member of the Board of Directors,
c) Not have their membership rights suspended at the time the elections are called,
d) Not have been linked to FC Barcelona as a player, coach, technician or employee in the two years prior to the call for elections,
e) Not have been disciplined by the club for a very serious offence in the five years prior to the elections,
f) Have formally resigned and ceased in office before Phase VI of the electoral process (submission of candidacy proposals), if the prospective candidate is a member of the Board of Directors or of the Interim Management Committee that called the elections and wishes to stand again,
g) Be included on the current electoral roll,
h) In the case of the presidential pre-candidate, have Catalan civil residence.

A pre-candidate is understood to be a member who, with the intention of standing for election, meets the eligibility requirements and has formally notified the Electoral Board of their wish to head a candidacy during the period prior to official proclamation as a candidate.

3 - How is the club governed during the election period?

The Board of Directors elected in 2021 completes its term on 30 June. Until that date, those members of the current Board who do not resign, within the time limits established in the Statutes, in order to seek re-election will continue to govern the club with full powers, provided they represent at least one third of the current Board.

4 - When must the current Board step down?

Board members who wish to stand for re-election must resign between the date of official publication of the election call (9 February) and the start of Phase VI (22 February).

5 - Can Board members who remain in office stand in the elections?

No. Board members who do not resign within the period set out in the Statutes may not be included on a candidacy list (Article 42-f). In the event of re-election, they may be appointed again by the new Board of Directors once it takes office (from 1 July) and subsequently ratified at the first General Assembly held after the elections.

More news here