Incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu swept to victory Saturday in the presidential election held by European champions Barcelona.
Bartomeu took a massive 54.63 per cent of the 47,080 votes cast, and was thereby elected for a six-year term.
Surprisingly, Joan Laporta - who was Barca president from 2003 to 2010 - picked up only 33.03 per cent of the votes. Agusti Benedito came third with 7.17 while Toni Freixa came fourth and last with only 3.70 per cent.
Only 46 per cent of the eligible Barca members turned out to vote.
“Today has been a day of much tension,” a delighted Bartomeu said after the official results were announced.
“Today everyone who voted showed how much they love Barca. We have shown that we are the best club in the world not only on the pitch. We are a special club, owned by the members and organized in a democratic fashion.
“Now we all have to bury our differences and come together for the good of our club.”
Bartomeu was promoted from vice-president to president of Barca in January 2014 when Sandro Rosell stepped down because of alleged irregularities in the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar.
The key factor in Bartomeu’s victory was Barca pulling off the treble of Champions League, Spanish league and cup this spring, with Luis Enrique as coach.
Bartomeu recently extended Luis Enrique’s contract until 2017. The coach was one of the first Barca members to vote early Saturday, without saying which candidate he had opted for.
A minority of the Barca players - including veterans Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique - are paid-up club members, and turned out to vote. In addition, several former Barca players, including Xavi and Carles Puyol, voted.
Meanwhile, a disappointed Laporta said: “I am a democrat and I accept these results. I congratulate the winner.
“However, there are two very different models for running this club. I will continue to offer an alternative model to the one that is in power now.”
