FIA Presidential Election Proceeds Despite Court Scrutiny
A French court has greenlit the FIA presidential election for December 12, with Mohammed Ben Sulayem as the sole candidate. However, a separate hearing is scheduled for February 2026 to thoroughly investigate allegations of systemic irregularities and unfairness in the election process, potentially impacting the legitimacy of the outcome and future FIA governance.
The French court has affirmed that the FIA presidential election will proceed as scheduled this month, even as allegations of systemic irregularities in the election process will be heard in detail early next year. Mohammed Ben Sulayem remains the sole candidate.
Why it matters:
This ruling allows the FIA's presidential election to move forward, but the underlying legal challenge highlights ongoing concerns about the fairness and transparency of the federation's electoral system. If the future hearing finds significant irregularities, it could potentially destabilize the leadership and raise questions about the legitimacy of the process, impacting global motorsport governance.
The details:
- Emergency Hearing Denied: Judge Malik Chapuis of the Paris Judicial Court ruled against granting interim relief to halt the election, stating there were no immediate reasons to stop the December 12 vote.
- Sole Candidate: Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the only candidate on the ballot, as challenger Laura Villars was unable to form the mandatory full Presidential List required to qualify.
- Future Scrutiny: Despite the election proceeding, Judge Chapuis acknowledged grounds for a more detailed examination of the allegations. A fresh hearing is scheduled for February 16, 2026.
- Villars' Complaints: The core issues raised by Villars include:
- The inability of any candidate other than Ben Sulayem to submit a complete Presidential List.
- Lack of alternative candidates for the World Motor Sport Council in South America.
- Concerns over the transparency and functioning of the Nominations Committee.
- Questions about the electoral procedures' compliance with FIA's governance, democracy, and integrity principles.
- FIA's Response: The FIA welcomed the court's decision, reiterating its focus on the General Assemblies in Uzbekistan and critical discussions with member clubs on motorsport and automotive mobility.
What's next:
The February 2026 hearing will delve deep into the specifics of the FIA's election process. While the current election will install Ben Sulayem as president, the court's future ruling could challenge the validity of the election or force significant reforms to the FIA's electoral rules, potentially setting a precedent for future leadership contests.