Florentino Perez Re-elected As Real Madrid President After First Vote In Two Decades

Florentino Perez will continue as Real Madrid's president until 2030 after winning the club's first contested presidential election in nearly two decades.

The 79-year-old received 65% of the vote, defeating businessman Enrique Riquelme, who secured the remaining 35% of ballots cast by club members at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training complex. The election marked the first time since 2006 that supporters were presented with more than one candidate for the presidency.

Addressing supporters after the result was confirmed, Perez described the outcome as one of the strongest electoral performances in the club's history.

"We've obtained the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid [elections]," Perez said. "It's an extraordinary result... Today, Real Madrid won. We've shown an example of democracy to the world. We'll keep working for Real Madrid to keep winning trophies... I want to thank everyone who participated. Together, we have a lot of history left to make."

The result extends Perez's leadership into a fourth decade at the club. Since first taking office in 2000, he has overseen one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid's history, including multiple domestic and European titles. Before this election, he had retained the presidency on several occasions without facing an opponent.

Riquelme accepted the result shortly after the vote count was completed.

"I would like to congratulate Florentino Perez's campaign on its victory. Real Madrid will not go another 20 years without an election," he said.

The election was called earlier than expected after Real Madrid finished a second consecutive season without a major trophy. The club also surrendered the LaLiga title to rivals FC Barcelona, increasing scrutiny over the team's direction ahead of the new campaign.

During the campaign, Florentino Perez re-elected became a central talking point among members as the veteran administrator outlined plans for squad reinforcement. Perez said he intends to strengthen the team during the transfer window and suggested a major signing could be announced in the coming days.

He also indicated that Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho is his preferred candidate for the managerial position and identified defenders Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as potential transfer targets.

With the vote concluded, attention now shifts from the election campaign to preparations for next season as Perez begins another term as Real Madrid's president.