Toni Freixa, the candidate who looks to have finished last in today’s elections, discussed the results with Barca TV this evening. For Freixa, who was for a while part of the club board, the politics of fear and the media attention on the Bartomeu-Laporta rivalry played a big role in the ultimate result.
“We ran a good campaign,” he said. “But people voted for Bartomeu to keep Laporta out and for Laporta to keep Bartomeu out.”
In spite of the poor outcome, Freixa accepted defeat: “The polls are ruthless and the results have to be respected. It’s a privilege to be part of this club but I think that this result shows just how bipolarised the campaign was. Only those two candidates got media attention.”
He says he’s now looking to the future: “The warmth I’ve received from the members is important to me. Clearly my life doesn’t end here. I congratulate Mr. Bartomeu on his victory.”