FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars has publicly expressed her concerns about the way elections within the international motorsport federation are being conducted. According to her, there are ‘legitimate questions’ about the conformity of the current procedure with the FIA statutes, and she does not rule out legal action. It was announced on Thursday that current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem may be re-elected unopposed.
Villars, who announced her candidacy in September, states that independent legal advice supports her doubts. “Formal discussions are currently taking place between my legal team and the FIA administration, as the current election procedure raises legitimate concerns about conformity with the FIA statutes,” she declared in a manifesto published on Thursday. “Independent legal advice confirms that several recent procedural changes are in violation of those same statutes.””The French candidate emphasized the importance of transparency and good governance within the organization. “According to Article 1.3 of the FIA statutes, the federation must uphold the highest standards of governance, transparency, and democracy,” she continued. “All options – including legal and judicial – are therefore being considered to ensure that these principles are respected. As candidates, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the FIA remains a beacon of transparency and democracy. These are the foundations of its legitimacy and global credibility.”
Ben Sulayem, the Presumed Winner?
Earlier this week, the World Motor Sport Council published the list of candidates participating in the presidential elections. It is noteworthy that vice presidents must come from different global regions. Only one candidate represents South America: Fabiana Ecclestone, the wife of former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. However, she is seen as a loyal ally of the current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is running for a second term. Because a candidate can only be on one list, this could potentially lead to Ben Sulayem participating in the elections without any real opposition.
Despite the tensions surrounding the process, Villars remains combative. “I am determined to continue my campaign and have confidence in a fair and transparent outcome,” she emphasized. The FIA elections will take place on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
