Real Madrid’s Electoral Board has firmly dismissed allegations made by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme regarding the handling of the club’s electoral process, insisting that all procedures leading up to the June 7 presidential election have been conducted transparently and in accordance with established regulations.
The dispute emerged after Riquelme questioned the integrity of the election process, claiming that only one candidate had access to the club’s membership register and raising concerns over the security and custody of postal votes. His comments prompted an immediate response from the Electoral Board, which issued a detailed statement rejecting the accusations.
According to the Board, “no candidate has been granted exclusive access” to the electoral register. It stressed that all campaign communications sent to club members have been managed through an established process designed to ensure fairness and equal treatment for every candidate involved in the election.
The Board also emphasized that Riquelme had been informed of the communication procedures both in writing and in person when he formally submitted his candidacy. The election body maintained that the rules governing the process have been “publicly available throughout the campaign period”.
Electoral Board Defends Election Procedures
In its statement, the Electoral Board categorically stated that, “The Electoral Board has not provided the electoral register to any of the candidates running in the elections on June 7th.”
The Board explained that candidates wishing to send campaign materials to club members are required to submit their documents directly to the Electoral Board, which then oversees distribution through official club channels. This procedure, it noted, is clearly outlined in the regulations governing the election.
Officials further revealed that June 1 at 6:00 p.m. had been established as the final deadline for the submission of campaign materials intended for members. The Board argued that all communications reaching club members have followed this process and that no candidate has received preferential treatment.
The statement also highlighted concerns over the potential impact of Riquelme’s remarks on the credibility of the election. Members of the Board expressed “disappointment” that doubts had been cast on the integrity of a process they insist has been managed “carefully and professionally from the outset.”
Postal Vote Security at Centre of Debate
One of the key issues raised by Riquelme concerned the safeguarding of postal votes. In response, the Electoral Board disclosed that it had previously provided written assurances to his campaign regarding the security measures in place.
The Board noted that, “In order to reinforce transparency and confidence in the integrity of the postal vote custody procedure, candidates who request it may designate one of the validly accredited observers” to monitor the area where postal ballots are stored.
According to the statement, these observers would operate under the club’s existing security and surveillance systems, ensuring an additional layer of oversight throughout the voting process.
Concluding its response, the Electoral Board reaffirmed its commitment to the regulations governing the election and called for respect for the institution and its procedures. It stressed that, “The Electoral Board is rigorously and precisely following the applicable regulations at all times during the current electoral process.”
The election, scheduled for June 7, is expected to be one of the most significant in Real Madrid’s modern history. It marks the first contested presidential race at the club since 2006 and only the third such election this century.
Incumbent president Florentino Pérez is seeking another term after calling elections in May following a season in which the club failed to win a major trophy.
Pérez, who has served as president since 2009 during his second spell in charge, oversaw one of the most successful eras in the club’s history, including six UEFA Champions League triumphs in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024.
Businessman Enrique Riquelme officially entered the race on May 21, setting up a rare electoral challenge to Pérez’s long-standing leadership as club members prepare to cast their votes this weekend.
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