Barca President Laporta resigns ahead of club elections

Joan Laporta has resigned as FC Barcelona president in order to stand for re-election in the club’s Board of Directors vote on 15 March, with a group of directors also stepping down to take part in the electoral process.The resignations were formalised at an ordinary board meeting on Monday, when the election call was officially published, and are framed by the club as a procedural step required by its statutes rather than a change of direction at board level.“In accordance with Article 42.f of the FC Barcalona Statutes, president Joan Laporta has stepped down from his position in order to be eligible to stand in the elections to the Board of Directors, which will be held on 15 March. "This resignation was formalised at the ordinary meeting of the Board of Directors held this Monday, at which the election call was officially published.”Barcelona said Laporta was joined by nine board members who relinquished their posts to participate in the election, naming vice-president for the Institutional Area Elena Fort, vice-president for the Social Area Rafael Escudero, and directors Ferran Oliver, Josep Maria Albert, Javier Barbany, Miquel Camps, Aureli Mas, Javier Puig and Joan Soler i Ferré.The club said the Board of Directors will continue to carry out its duties under a new configuration until the end of the current term, which is scheduled for 30 June, ensuring day-to-day governance continues during the electoral period.“Now that these resignations have been formalised, the Board of Directors will continue to carry out its duties until the end of the current term, scheduled for 30 June, under a new configuration.”Barcelona said the interim leadership group will be headed by Rafael Yuste as president, with Josep Cubells as vice-president and secretary and Alfons Castro as treasurer. The remaining board members listed by the club are Josep Ignasi Macià, Àngel Riudalbas, Joan Solé i Sust and Sisco Pujol.The resignations also clarify which figures will be able to appear on an election ticket, with Laporta intending to present a new candidature while the reconfigured board oversees routine decision-making and operational continuity until the end of the current mandate.Barcelona said that once the resignations were confirmed, the newly configured board continued the meeting in line with its existing agenda.