The campaign at Barça ends with an exchange of recriminations

BarcelonaThe election campaign for the presidency of FC Barcelona has now ended. The day of reflection comes after candidates Joan Laporta and Víctor Font spent Friday carrying out their final campaign events to win over undecided voters. The promises, proposals, and projects now remain in the minds of the club's supporters, who will have to decide on Sunday whether to re-elect Laporta or opt for the change proposed by Font. The final day of the campaign served to deliver the last messages and tie the finishing touches to an intense month of events and commitments, culminating in a closing ceremony for each candidate. It was a way to honor and thank the numerous volunteers who supported the projects, from collecting signatures to providing logistical support for the presidential hopefuls. Joan Laporta chose La Pedrera for his final event. The president, seeking re-election, gave a nod to the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death at a party that brought together 250 friends. To shouts of "President, president," Laporta indulged in one last bask in the adulation of the crowd, during which, as he admitted, he would eventually become emotional.

The Barcelona lawyer wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel at this conventional closing event, where his words were accompanied by music, commercials, and messages from personalities—some more well-known than others—who had decided to support him. One of them, member number 9, declared herself a Laporta voter because of the "enthusiasm and positivity" he exuded. Also present were Uri Fernández, owner of the Bocata bar, which gained popularity during the campaign; and Edu Esteve, author of the campaign song. Presented by journalist Andrea Ginés, the presidential candidate focused on football and sporting successes, delegating the economic aspects to two guests: Oriol Amat—who will chair the economic committee if he wins—and his former vice president for economic affairs, Xavier Sala-i-Martín. The latter launched a barrage of criticism against the opposition, describing Laporta as someone with "intelligence beyond the computer," praising him for following his instincts and making the right decisions at key moments. But Laporta seemed most at ease when speaking about Víctor Font, whom he treated with utter contempt. He began by reiterating campaign slogans, such as "against all odds and everyone" and "we saved Barça." He then went on to accuse him of playing "dirty games" and admitting to having pulled "a few stunts" on him, such as the registration of Dani Olmo, which was secured under the radar. The lawyer had gained momentum and didn't stop, reproaching him for a "misguided elitism" and saying that he "thinks he's above the law," before finally pointing out his "arrogance" and "cheap sarcasm" when he insisted on referring to him as "former president of Barça."

The Camp Nou under construction, the successes of the various sections despite budget cuts, and the feeling of having restored hope to Barça fans were some of his additional messages at an event where he asked for two rounds of applause for two of the attendees. One for Deco, "for the dirty tricks he's been through" during the campaign; and the other for Alejandro Echevarría, his right-hand man, "for having suffered the dirty tricks."

Font looks a winner

For his part, Víctor Font opted for a closing event at his own headquarters, where he also basked in the adulation of the crowd: the venue on Diagonal Avenue was overflowing, with people even gathering outside the doors. To shouts of "President, President," the leader of Nosotros asserted that the past few weeks had served to turn the narrative around. "They asked us why we were even trying. They wanted us to believe there was no contest. And we've ended up demonstrating that a majority of members want a different Barça," said Font, who expressed his conviction of winning at the polls. During his speech, the candidate also took a swipe at Laporta, joking that he "could finally speak," after Thursday's debate on TV3 was marred by interruptions. He also reiterated his criticism of his rival's lies: "He doesn't tell the truth."

"Faced with a president who divides people into good and bad Barcelona fans, they will always find us standing up, defending Barça and its people," Font exclaimed. The presidential candidate reiterated the need to manage the club by putting the members at the "center" and pointed out that the outgoing board's Barça had broken ties with so many club legends. The leader of Nosotros once again called for member mobilization: "It is crucial that each and every one of us goes out and votes." The candidate, who now has the referendum he so fervently advocated for, concluded his campaign with hope and a winning message: "We will win!"