DICTATORSHIP: Florentino Pérez will be president of Real Madrid again without elections!

Florentino Pérez will continue to be the president of Real Madrid, at least, until the year 2029. The Spanish businessman was re-elected for a fifth consecutive term without the need to submit his continuity to elections, confirming the dictatorship in the so-called 'White House' of one of the most influential figures in sports and politics in Spain during the 21st century.

Unlike FC Barcelona, where a president cannot lead for more than two consecutive terms of 5 years each, Madrid does not limit indefinite re-election for 4-year terms. The club's Electoral Board endorsed Pérez's candidacy this Friday, who was ultimately the only candidate registered after the call for elections made on January 7. The scenario for 2025 is identical to that of 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021, where there was also no one capable of challenging the power of the 77-year-old businessman.

Florentino will complete two decades without rivals for the presidency of Madrid

Thus, Florentino will be ratified as president for his fifth consecutive term next Monday, January 20, the same day that the draw for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey will also take place, where besides the 'merengues' will be FC Barcelona, Getafe, Valencia, Atlético de Madrid, Osasuna, Leganés, and Real Sociedad. For Pérez, the stage is set to complete two decades at the helm of Madrid, like an Arab sheikh or a magnate leading a sports corporation.

The leader returned to office in the summer of 2009, three years after resigning in March 2006. Since then, he has accumulated five consecutive elections without rivals for the presidency of the 'White House', something unprecedented in a club that claims to be of its members. According to the club's internal statutes, each candidate for the presidency must present a bank guarantee corresponding to 15% of the institution's budget backed by personal assets (around 170 million euros).

This has been the key to Florentino's dictatorship at Madrid, as the also president of Grupo ACS is one of the richest executives in Spain. Furthermore, the overwhelming support of the vast majority of members, along with total control of the club, the media in the capital, and the main bodies of Spanish football (LaLiga and the RFEF, both presided over by confessed Madrid fans) allows Pérez to perpetuate himself in office as long as he wishes.