What Josep Maria Bartomeu's Presidential Win Means for Barcelona

Barcelona's socio membership has spoken.

They came in the thousands to exercise their right to vote at Camp Nou—over 44,000, according to Sport, which was a higher turnout than expected being the close season.

In the end, Josep Maria Bartomeu withstood the challenge from his nearest rival, Joan Laporta, Barca's president from 2003 to 2010, and emerged victorious with over 50 per cent of the total vote per Weloba:

Laporta's manifesto was built around a sustainable model of the pillars of La Masia, UNICEF on the front of the shirt and the style of play of Johan Cruyff, per FourFourTwo. 

BERNAT ARMANGUE/Associated Press

Despite a perceived loss of the values that make Barca the club that it is, plus his support of Qatar Airways to remain as sponsor on Barca's shirt before stepping down from his role to allow these elections to take place, it didn't affect the outcome for a clearly ecstatic Bartomeu.

It's some turnaround too.

Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC noted as late as March of this year that a poll by Catalan radio show El club de la mitjanit had 51 percent of members wanting Laporta back in the hot seat.

In essence, Bartomeu has won the hearts and minds of voters because he represents solidity. Traditionally conservative voters would most likely have adopted the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. There can be little doubt that winning the treble and the feel-good factor around the club has played a massive part in his personal popularity too.

Laporta's treble was then; this is now. And Bartomeu has ridden the crest of that particular wave.

Those socis who wanted Laporta to triumph need to be convinced that Senor Bartomeu has the club's best interests at heart, however. So the hard work really starts now.

He certainly doesn't need Sharan Burrow of the International Trade Union Federation, via Merco Press, noting:

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Sports fans around the world have always admired FC Barcelona for its founding values of respect, democracy and universality, and its long history of avoiding corporate sponsorship on its playing shirt. In 2010, the club unfortunately broke more than 100 years of tradition by striking a deal with Qatar (Qatar Foundation then Qatar Airways).

When the sponsorship deal was signed with Qatar Airways, its CEO Akbar Al-Baker said that the airline shares the same values as Barcelona. The fact is, Qatar is the very worst sponsor for Barcelona.

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It is precisely those sorts of comments that are not helpful in bringing together a fractured membership.

A club that is looked upon as the world's best on the pitch is often riven by discourse behind the scenes.

Ben Hayward of Goal noted the intentions of the club's best player before the results were known:

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Lionel Messi will not publicly back any of the candidates in Barcelona's presidential election on Saturday, but the Argentine attacker is keen to see former club chief Joan Laporta beat Josep Maria Bartomeu in the weekend vote.

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The decisions that Bartomeu takes over the course of the next few months are crucial to his popularity and longevity in the role, assuming the courts do not intervene.

Sid Lowe of the Guardian was one of many to report on the decision of the national court to accept the request of the state prosecutor to investigate Senor Bartomeu for fraud pertaining to the signing of Neymar.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

That particular case could yet ruin all of the good work done by Bartomeu and his team during his election campaign, as well as other good work that has perhaps been overlooked.

Luis Enrique was his choice as manager. Pedro has been convinced to sign a new contract, even if speculation remains that he is bound for Chelsea or Manchester United, per ESPN FC.

Dani Alves was tied down to a new deal when it seemed likely he would leave, and both Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan have signed despite not being able to play for six months. Such acts cannot just be dismissed.

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"For Barça, we will wait for however long it takes." - Aleix Vidal & Arda Turan pic.twitter.com/0LJHprFThK

— Marie-Anne (@AddictedToBarca) July 17, 2015"

When the dust settles, Bartomeu is the democratically elected winner. Period.

For the sake of FC Barcelona, the membership should accept that clear democratic mandate, get behind the team and work together to ensure the club gets stronger rather than prised apart.