Benfica’s upcoming elections are heating up, and a fresh face just stepped into the spotlight. Pedro Ferreira Malaquias, a seasoned lawyer, has been announced as the choice for president of the General Assembly Table (MAG). He’s joining the ‘Benfica no Sangue’ ticket, led by Martim Borges Coutinho Mayer.
Malaquias brings a strong legal background to the race. He earned his law degree from the University of Lisbon. His career has focused on banking, finance, and insurance law, giving advice to big financial groups. Before this, he worked at Banco Português do Atlântico and even the European Commission’s competition department. He also served as a legal director at BCP Investimento. This resume certainly fits a profile of excellence.
“My whole life, both personal and professional, has been guided by a sense of fairness, equality, legality, and respect,” Malaquias stated. “I plan to bring these same values to this role if I’m elected. I will always remember that the club’s and its members’ best interests must come first, always.” It’s a strong message, showing his deep commitment to the club’s principles.
Martim Mayer sees Malaquias as a perfect fit for his team. Mayer wants people with top professional skills on his lists for the club’s governing bodies. More importantly, he seeks individuals with no past ties to the club’s history. This, he says, ensures complete independence, signaling a clear break from what came before. It’s a strategic move to bring in fresh perspectives.
Malaquias is only the second person to throw his hat into the ring for the MAG presidency. A couple of weeks ago, the ‘Servir o Benfica’ movement introduced João Leite as an independent candidate for the same role. This shows that the race for the club’s future is starting to take shape, not just for the top job.
The big election day is set for October 25. A number of prominent figures are already in the running for the Benfica presidency. This includes the current president, Rui Costa, who aims to hold onto his seat. João Noronha Lopes, who lost to Luís Filipe Vieira in the 2020 election, is back. Other hopefuls are João Diogo Manteigas and Cristóvão Carvalho, along with Martim Mayer himself.
Adding more intrigue, Luís Filipe Vieira is expected to announce his own bid. He led Benfica, affectionately known as the ‘Club of Light’, from 2003 until 2021. He stepped down then because of his involvement in the ‘Red Card’ case. His potential return would certainly stir up a lot of conversation among fans.
The last election, held four years ago, was quite a landmark. Rui Costa won the presidency with a strong 84.48% of the votes. Francisco Benítez received 12.24%. That election saw a record 40,085 members cast their ballots, making it the most contested and participated election in Benfica’s history. This time, the stakes feel just as high, if not higher, for the soul of the club.
