Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid formally initiated their presidential election process on Thursday morning
- Challengers to Florentino Perez have between 14th and 23rd May to declare their candidacy
- Enrique Riquelme requested more time for nominations, but the process commenced 14 hours after his open letter
Election Process Officially Commences
Real Madrid have formally activated the electoral process for the club presidency, delivering on the commitment made earlier in the week by current president Florentino Perez. Those wishing to contest Perez for the role now have a window of just nine days to submit their applications.
Perez called an unexpected press conference on Tuesday evening, during which he announced forthcoming elections and actively encouraged his critics to contest his presidency. During his address, he made strong statements regarding his leadership and potential departure, reiterating his commitment to a democratic process.
🚨 BREAKING: Presidential elections have OFFICIALLY been called.
Candidates have until May 23rd to register. @AranchaMOBILE pic.twitter.com/BQ0yqamkfw
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 14, 2026
Schedule for Candidacy Submission and Next Steps
The club confirmed on Thursday morning that the official window for presenting candidacies will run from 14th May until 23rd May. The latter date coincides with Real Madrid’s final home fixture of the season against Athletic Club. The following day, all candidates meeting the requirements will be officially recognised as part of the voting process.
At present, no specific date has been announced for the actual vote itself. The club clarified that this date would only be determined if more than one individual submits a valid candidacy. Notably, Perez has been elected unopposed in each of the last four elections.
Potential Challenger Requests Extension
Enrique Riquelme, one of the individuals encouraged by Perez to stand against him, reportedly considered entering the race on Wednesday. However, just minutes before Perez appeared in an interview with El Chiringuito, Riquelme published an open letter, featured in Marca, in which he requested additional time to assemble his campaign.
After expressing appreciation for Perez’ tenure and referencing his status as the club’s greatest president, Riquelme stated:
“For all these reasons, and with the utmost respect, I would like to convey our full willingness to engage in dialogue in the coming days and agree on a broader process that allows and encourages the genuine participation of members and Real Madrid supporters in its future. As you yourself mentioned in your press conference, a more transparent and innovative process is needed to address the persistent shortcomings surrounding, for example, postal voting or the availability of information and contact for members with voting rights. An agreed-upon process for this election should ensure another twenty years of stability, leadership, and greatness for Real Madrid and prevent the club from entering a period of division, polarization, and internal tension.”
This plea did not affect the club’s timeline, as the election process was announced only 14 hours after the publication of Riquelme’s letter. Later, at a business event, Riquelme told Marca, “I’ll decide in the next few days whether we take up the challenge, to see if there’s enough time to put something together. We’ll see if we take up the challenge in the next few days and if there’s enough time to do something that makes sense. And I will always do it thinking about what’s best for Real Madrid.”
Riquelme acknowledged that improvements could be made at Real Madrid and is now considering whether to swiftly prepare a campaign to oppose Perez or to hold back for now.
