Barcelona presidential elections must be held despite restrictions, says Joan Laporta

Joan Laporta is keen for the Barcelona presidential elections to go ahead later this month, despite restrictions in Catalonia that could prevent people from voting. The elections are scheduled for January 24 and email and online voting is not permitted. Laporta collected 10,257 signatures for his candidacy, far outnumbering the three other candidates Victor Font, Toni Freixa and Emili Rousaud.

Barcelona's leading presidential candidate Joan Laporta has said the club's January elections should go ahead as planned, despite Covid-19 restrictions.

Catalan authorities will decide later this week whether to extend current restrictions, which prevent people leaving their municipality except for work, education or medical reasons, beyond January 17.

Doing so would jeopardise the election, which is on January 24, as email and online voting is not permitted.

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Laporta, who collected 10,257 signatures for his candidacy, far outnumbering the three other candidates Victor Font, Toni Freixa and Emili Rousaud, suggested the restrictions should contain an exemption for club members so they can vote.

"If you can make exceptions to go to work, you can make them to vote," Laporta told reporters outside Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Barca have been run by a management committee with minimal powers since Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned as president in October to avoid a vote of no confidence.

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Laporta said the election should be held to ensure the club can sign players before the January transfer window shuts and fix its dire financial problems, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Barca cannot wait any longer, we are missing out on golden opportunities. We have to do everything possible for the elections to take place," he added.

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Font, the candidate with the most signatures after Laporta with 4,713, has long campaigned for the club to allow members to vote online and said the election should only be held if all members are able to participate.

"The figures from the pandemic are very serious, and if the club does not come up with a solution then the election cannot take place," he said.

"There are many members who are scared and don't want to leave their houses."

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