With less than a week remaining before Real Madrid members head to the polls, tensions surrounding the club’s presidential election have escalated.
The club’s Electoral Board released an official statement addressing concerns raised by challenger Enrique Riquelme, who had questioned aspects of the electoral process, including the handling of the membership registry and the security of postal votes.
In its response, the Electoral Board firmly rejected Riquelme’s suggestion that one candidate had been
granted privileged access to the club’s electoral roll.
“The Electoral Board has not provided the electoral register to any of the candidates running in the elections on June 7th,” the statement read.
The Board also clarified the process through which candidates can communicate with club members during the campaign. According to the governing body, both Riquelme and incumbent president Florentino Pérez received written instructions explaining the procedure. The regulations require candidates to submit campaign materials to the club, which then handles their distribution to members.
The Board noted that Riquelme was personally informed of this process when he formally submitted his candidacy and that the procedure is explicitly outlined in the election regulations. June 1st at 6:00 p.m. was established as the deadline for candidates to provide any campaign material intended for distribution.
The sharpest response from the Electoral Board concerned Riquelme’s comments regarding postal voting, an issue that has become one of the central points of contention in the campaign.
In its statement, the Board expressed “great concern” over claims that could undermine confidence in the security of mailed ballots. It emphasized that it had already informed both candidates of additional transparency measures available throughout the voting process.
According to the Board, candidates were offered the opportunity to appoint accredited observers who could remain continuously near the room where postal ballots are being stored. The area is also covered by existing security systems and video surveillance measures.
The Electoral Board argued that these safeguards were specifically designed to reinforce trust in the integrity of the election and rejected any implication that postal votes were not being adequately protected.
The statement concluded by reiterating that all campaign materials sent to members have been handled according to the established regulations and that the Board has followed the applicable rules “rigorously and precisely” throughout the process.
As a result, the Electoral Board called for respect for its work as the election enters its final days.
The vote, scheduled for June 7th, is set to be one of the most significant presidential elections in recent Real Madrid history. Florentino Pérez is seeking another term in office while facing a challenge from Riquelme. It will mark the first contested presidential election at the club since 2006, ending nearly two decades without a direct vote between multiple candidates.
