It is hard to imagine that these elections for Barça’s presidency will be the most atypical in the club’s history. At least from the recent one. Not only will you have to vote in the middle of a pandemic, but the campaign will also be marked by masks, seating restrictions, hydroalcoholic ice, and a strict ban on doing what candidates love so much: shaking hands. A series of inconveniences that need imaginative solutions: from turning the polling station into a museum to holding online rallies, waiting for the locals to reopen their doors to make presentations to the public.
These are days of calculations in the pre-candidacies. All are pending the final date of the election. The manager, chaired by Carles Tusquets, promised to convene them before Christmas so that a vote could be taken -40 days later- in the second half of January. But he gave no further clues. Those running for the presidency are working on the thesis that the elections will be on January 17 or 24. However, some voices from the Camp Nou speculate that it could come in February. A scenario that, for now, the club denies.
As soon as Tusquets wants
Among those running for president are two sides: the media and those yet to be made known among a section of the electorate. Former president Joan Laporta and former candidates Agustí Benedito and Toni Freixa are already known to the Barça social masses. However, not everyone knows who Xavi Vilajoana or Emili Rousaud are, even though they have been Bartomeu’s directors. Something similar happens with Víctor Font and Jordi Farré, although in their case they have gained prominence because they have been maturing their project for years, so that they can be associated with names like Xavi Hernández or because they have become popular as a result of the motion. of censorship.
Visibility and time
Visibility and time, two key factors in any election race. It is not surprising, then, that the businessman Víctor Font was one of the first to start this pre-campaign, which he has designed as a long-distance race. Before the pandemic, he had traveled much of Catalonia and, with the covid-19, had replaced face-to-face events with virtual talks with partners. Last week he went a step further by presenting the first of his own names (Toni Nadal) that would accompany him to the Camp Nou box office. During this selection break he plans to announce more.
Font holds virtual meetings and Farré will make a small museum at his headquarters
Jordi Farré, the promoter of the motion of censure that would end up defeating Bartomeu – passively – has also broken his horn. As it is possible to go to museums during the restrictions, he has decided to build a small one with a Barça theme. There will be trophies, Champions, old shirts or fences and seats from the Les Corts field. It will be at its headquarters in Barcelona (Numancia, 63), with two floors, where it will also install a press room, audiovisuals, video conferencing and even a small dining room for guests.
Vilajoana and Rousaud are also preparing and have to make the move in a matter of days. Especially Vilajoana, who had moved to have a headquarters on the Rambla and appear this week in virtual format. For his part, Rousaud, who has not yet ruled out a unitary candidacy, will present his project on Thursday to the Federation of Supporters Clubs. Most of the pre-candidates will pass through this group, such as Farré, who will also speak on Thursday.
While most of the pre-candidates are already wagging their tails, Laporta, Benedito and Freixa are watching the bulls from the barrier. All three say they have a mature and worked out project, and agree that they will adapt the strategy based on the election date. Especially Benedito and Freixa, who have already publicly announced that they are running and do not plan to make any further moves – apart from internal meetings – until it is known which day will be voted. Laporta is also on this path, although since his candidacy they have not ruled out running during this break. It has transpired from the former president that he will make a revolution in the management team and that he will face this campaign with the lesson learned in 2015, when haste and improvisation left him with no options for victory.
Barça elections: ten candidates for a single seat
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