The race for the presidency of Club Atlético Internacional has officially narrowed to a decisive two-candidate runoff, with Leonardo Aquino and Roberto Melo emerging as the frontrunners following the first-round vote held by the Deliberative Council on Monday. This pivotal step determines who will lead the club for the upcoming three-year term spanning 2027 to 2029. José Amarante, who placed third in the initial count, is now eliminated from the contest, leaving Aquino and Melo to battle for the ultimate authority over the organization’s strategic direction.
Deliberative Council locks in final two candidates as club prepares for Nov. 12 vote.
The first-round results revealed a tight contest among the three leading tickets, with no single candidate securing an immediate majority. Roberto Melo’s campaign, branded “Inter for the Future,” captured 130 votes, representing 40.6% of the total count. Leonardo Aquino’s ticket, “Inter Comes First,” followed closely with 116 votes, or 36.3%, while José Amarante’s “I Am Inter” slate garnered 74 votes, accounting for 23.1% of the tally. The high participation rate, with 320 of the 337 council members casting ballots, underscores the significant engagement and internal division within the club’s governance body.
Club members will now cast their final votes on November 12, with voting windows open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. via both online platforms and in-person stations at the Beira-Rio stadium. Eligibility for the runoff requires members to be at least 16 years old on election day, registered with Internacional since December 31, 2025, and current on all membership dues through October 31, 2026. As the deadline approaches, both Aquino and Melo are expected to intensify their campaigns, aiming to convert council support into a broader membership mandate for the next era of leadership.
Source: Yahoo Sports
