Real Madrid President Florentino Perez announced a board election on Tuesday and confirmed he will stand for re-election [1].
The move comes as the 79-year-old leader faces significant pressure following a trophy-less season [2, 5] and a 2-0 loss to Barcelona [3].
Speaking at a press conference at the club's headquarters in Madrid on May 12, 2026, Perez rejected speculation regarding his departure [1, 4]. He specifically addressed reports suggesting he might resign, and said that he will not step down [3].
Perez directed his criticism toward the media, alleging that his position has been unfairly targeted. "I am the victim of an organised campaign to unseat me," Perez said [1].
The president has led the club since June 2009 [1]. During his tenure of approximately 17 years, he has overseen a period of significant growth and success, though the most recent campaign ended without a title [1, 5].
Perez said that the decision to hold elections is tied to his desire to restore the club's assets to its members [2]. "I will stand for re-election to return the club's assets to its members," Perez said [2].
Despite the internal turmoil and the lack of silverware this year, Perez maintains that the institutional stability of the club remains his priority. "We will call a board election and I will not step down," Perez said [3].
“"I am the victim of an organised campaign to unseat me."”
The call for an election serves as a strategic move by Perez to legitimize his continued leadership through a formal vote rather than a voluntary exit. By framing his struggle as a battle against an 'organized campaign,' he is attempting to pivot the narrative from the team's poor on-field performance to a matter of institutional governance and member rights.
