Real Madrid presidential election polling update: Perez leading, but not without a scare

The live updates from Real Madrid’s presidential election polling continue to roll in, and the initial trends are not surprising in any sense.

Florentino Perez, who has widely been seen as the clear favourite to win, is leading the polls and is well placed to continue as the club’s president for another term.

His victory, however, comes with a massive black mark attached as it does not appear to be nearly as convincing as one would have expected. 

Defeat in victory?

As the votes continue to pour in, the image of the final picture slowly grows increasingly clear. The turnout for the election is decent and it turns out that the race is tighter than many expected.

Perez would have expected a more dominant vote-share. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

MARCA reveals that the election trends show Perez to have 61% of the votes and Enrique Riquelme to have 39% of the votes, and while the numbers are constantly fluctuating, they may well stabilise only in the 65% and 35% range.

For Florentino Perez, who has been the president of the club for close to two decades now, winning by a 65-35 ratio is virtually a defeat, and the alarm bells must ring.

A call for change?

Perez will indeed continue as the club’s president for one more term as matters stand, and this will likely be his final term in the position. Riquelme’s vote-share, however, now makes him a favourite to take office in the future.

Riquelme’s numbers are surprisingly good. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

For Perez and Co., the numbers should come as an absolute shock and a statement from the Real Madrid members that they are looking for a regime change. Any candidate vetted as Perez’s successor in the future will have to build off these rocky foundations.

Riquelme, meanwhile, will not be disappointed with the numbers as they show that he has created a real impact and mentality change in the members. He could well be a future president of the club.