New Candidate Enters Real Madrid Presidency Race

Florentino Pérez called elections for Real Madrid’s presidency and board on May 12, and businessman Enrique Riquelme has since emerged as the first publicly identified potential challenger. Real Madrid’s Electoral Board said candidate filings opened on May 14 and run through May 23. Pérez said he would stand again with his current board. Riquelme, executive chairman of energy and infrastructure group Cox, has used interviews and an open letter to signal he wants to enter the race and to press for a more transparent process. ### Who is Enrique Riquelme? Enrique Riquelme Vives is the executive chairman of Cox, according to company disclosures and BME Growth filings. BME Growth documents published in 2026 and 2025 identify him as a major shareholder in Cox ABG Group, with a controlling stake through related entities. El Confidencial identified him on May 13 as the businessman referenced in reporting around a possible challenge to Pérez. (realmadrid.com) El Confidencial reported on May 13 that Riquelme issued an open letter to Pérez asking for “more transparency” in the election process. That report said he was stepping forward after comments by Pérez that alluded to people working behind the scenes to run for the presidency. ### What exactly has Real Madrid announced? (bmegrowth.es) Real Madrid said on May 14 that its Electoral Board had formally called elections for president and the board of directors under Article 38 of the club’s bylaws. The club said candidacies may be submitted from May 14 to May 23, inclusive. It also said the day after each filing, the Electoral Board will rule on admission and proclamation of the candidacy. (elconfidencial.com) The club said voting will take place only if more than one candidacy is proclaimed. Real Madrid also said members could review the electoral roll from May 14 to May 18 and submit claims over inclusion or exclusion during the same period. ### What did Florentino Pérez say when he called the election? (realmadrid.com) Florentino Pérez said on May 12 that he would not resign and had asked the board to initiate the electoral process, with the current board intending to run again. He said he was acting because “an absurd situation has been created” and described campaigns aimed at generating opinion against Real Madrid and against him personally. (realmadrid.com) Pérez also said Real Madrid belongs to its roughly 100,000 members rather than a single owner. In the same appearance, he cited 66 titles won during his presidency across football and basketball. ### What hurdles does any challenger face? Real Madrid’s statutes and election rules impose strict entry conditions on any candidate. (realmadrid.com) Reporting that cites the club’s bylaws says a presidential candidate must have been a club member for at least 20 consecutive years and must present a bank guarantee equal to 15% of the club’s annual budget. Real Madrid said in July 2025 that revenue for the 2024/25 financial year reached 1.185 billion euros. Using that figure as a guide, 15% would amount to roughly 177.7 million euros, though the applicable election-year budget is the formal reference under the rules. ### Has Riquelme formally become a candidate yet? (en.as.com) Riquelme has been described in recent reports as preparing or considering a run, but the decisive step is whether his candidacy is filed and then accepted by the Electoral Board. Real Madrid’s official notice says only proclaimed candidacies move forward in the process, and rejected or accepted filings can be appealed within two calendar days of notification. (realmadrid.com) Yahoo Sports and other outlets, citing Spanish media reports, said on May 19 that Riquelme was ready to run and wanted debates with Pérez. Those reports point to a campaign taking shape, but Real Madrid’s formal process still turns on the board’s review of any submitted paperwork. ### What happens next in the election calendar? (realmadrid.com) May 23 is the deadline Real Madrid gave for submitting candidacies. The Electoral Board said it will proclaim or reject each candidacy the following day after submission, and appeals can be lodged within two calendar days. If only one candidacy is ultimately proclaimed, there is no vote under the club’s published procedure. (sports.yahoo.com) If more than one slate qualifies, Real Madrid said the Electoral Board will announce the date and place of voting. (realmadrid.com)