People don’t understand politics. Perez called this election for one reason, timing.
If he had waited until 2027, he would have been walking into a fight he might not win. For Riquelme to pull about 35% now, without having years to build a stronger campaign, tells you everything. Give him another year, give him more visibility, more allies, more dissatisfied voters, and that number could have become a winning number. That’s how politics work.
Perez saw the trend before everyone else did. The smartest politicians don’t wait for the storm to arrive, they move before the clouds fully gather.
By calling the election early, he forced Riquelme to fight before he was truly ready. He didn’t just win an election, he interrupted a movement. Momentum in politics is everything, and once it’s broken, rebuilding it is never guaranteed.
That’s why the result is bigger than the percentage itself. Perez didn’t just secure another term, he just prevent the emergence of the only challenger capable of seriously threatening his hold on power.
Smart political play, no wonder he’s the Greatest modern Club President.