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Democracy: getting what we deserve

In his editorial column in official publication UEFA•direct, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino looks ahead to the elections at the XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress in Paris on 22 March.

The XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress takes place in Paris on 22 March
The XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress takes place in Paris on 22 March ©UEFA.com

In the words of George Bernard Shaw, democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve – something to consider in view of the forthcoming UEFA elections. The Congress in March will be asked to decide on the composition of the UEFA Executive Committee for the next two years, with the terms of the president and seven members expiring in Paris.

Michel Platini is the only candidate for the position of UEFA president, which we can surely interpret as a sign of widespread support for the reforms he has introduced since he took office. Their scope and scale clearly require a certain continuity.

There are 13 candidates for the seven other seats. Of the outgoing members, six are standing for re-election, while Joseph Mifsud is stepping down after 17 years of valuable and loyal service. The seven new candidates standing for election to the Executive Committee give the voters a broad field to choose from and are a sign of the vitality of our association.

The elections go beyond the boundaries of Europe too, with three of UEFA's seven seats on the FIFA Executive Committee also up for renewal. Franz Beckenbauer's name is not on the ballot paper, as he has decided to step down after four years of service on the committee and many more in football as a whole (where we hope he will remain active).

In this issue we have the pleasure of introducing the different candidates and their manifestos. We hope this will go some way to helping our 53 member associations exercise their democratic rights in as well-informed a manner as possible. After that, it is up to them to make sure they elect the leaders they deserve!

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