Barça in Transition: Laporta Steps Down to Chase the Presidency

Overview

Joan Laporta has officially resigned from the presidency of Barcelona today, with the aim of standing in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for March 15.

The move complies with Article 42 of the club's bylaws, and the resignation was formalized during today's ordinary board meeting, which also announced the call for elections.

According to Barcelona's official site, several other directors stepped down to join the electoral process alongside Laporta; deputy president for institutional affairs Elena Fort submitted her resignation, together with Rafael Escudero, deputy president for social affairs.

The list of resigning members also includes Ferran Olivier, Josep Maria Albert, Xavier Barbaní, Mikel Camps, Oriol Mas, Xavier Puig, and Joan Soler i Sost.

Following the approvals of these resignations, the new board will take on its duties until the end of the current mandate on June 30.

Interim leadership and next steps

The interim governing body will consist of Rafael Yuste as president, Josep Cobils as vice-president and secretary, Alfonso Castro as treasurer, and members Josep Ignasi Masia, Angel Rodalbas, Joan Soler i Sost, and Sisco Bojol.

As soon as the new lineup was officially announced, the board continued to work on the pre-set agenda.

Punchline 1: If strategy were a goal, Barça just scored an own-goal into a new chapter. Punchline 2: This board is so fresh, even their meeting minutes need sunscreen.