Lorraine Williamson
Joan Laporta re-elected as FC Barcelona president means one of the most influential figures in Spanish football will remain in charge for another five years, after the club’s members handed him a clear victory in Sunday’s election. Barcelona said Laporta won 68.18% of the vote, securing 32,934 ballots and extending his leadership of the Catalan club until 2031.
Reuters also reported that Laporta won more than 68% of the vote and will begin his new term on 1 July, marking his second consecutive spell in charge and his fourth overall as club president.
A strong result in a high-profile election
Laporta’s victory was not especially close. Barcelona’s official results show his “Defensem el Barça” candidacy comfortably defeated rival Víctor Font, giving him a strong mandate at a time when the club is still balancing sporting ambition with financial pressure.
That matters because this was not just another internal vote. Barcelona remains one of the biggest football institutions in the world, and its presidential elections often attract attention far beyond Spain because the club’s political and financial decisions shape everything from transfers and stadium strategy to its wider image in European football.
Why this result matters now
Laporta first returned to power in March 2021, when he won the presidency again after earlier spells in charge between 2003 and 2010. Reuters notes that he stepped down last month in line with club statutes to stand for re-election.
His latest victory suggests Barcelona members still trust him to steer the club through a period that has included financial rebuilding, the long-running Camp Nou redevelopment, and the challenge of keeping Barça competitive at the top of Spanish and European football.
That trust is significant. Few club presidencies in Europe carry this much public scrutiny, and fewer still come with such direct member involvement.
Continuity at a crucial moment for Barça
Barcelona’s official site says Laporta will remain president until 2031, which gives the club continuity at a time when stability may matter almost as much as silverware.
The club is still navigating major structural issues, including the return to a redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou and the broader challenge of staying competitive in an era of strict financial controls. Laporta’s supporters will see this result as a sign that members want continuity rather than another political reset.
For critics, the next few years will be the real test. Winning an election is one thing. Turning that support into lasting progress on the pitch and off it is something else.
More than a Barcelona story
For Spanish football, this is a story with wider resonance. Barcelona is not just a club in Catalonia. It is one of Spain’s biggest sporting institutions and one of the country’s most-watched global brands.
That means Laporta’s re-election will be read not only as an internal club result, but as a signal of what Barça members believe the club needs most right now: familiarity, control, and a leadership team they already know.
Whether that translates into trophies, financial calm, and a smoother next chapter for the club is what will define this new term.