Presidential candidate Laura Villars sues FIA over undemocratic election

FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars is suing the federation over its democratic standards, with a first hearing set for 10 November.

The next presidential election will take place on 12 December, with four people having announced candidacies – but only incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem will actually be able to run.

The rules require presidential candidates to put together a team of seven vice-presidents from each of the FIA’s six global regions, but only one person, Fabiana Ecclestone, is eligible to be a vice-president from South America. The Brazilian is on Ben Sulayem’s list, meaning nobody else can run for president.

Former FIA steward Tim Mayer withdrew his presidential bid two weeks ago, slamming an “illusion of democracy” and “ethics violations”.

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This led to Villars’ legal proceedings; the Swiss is suing the Paris-based FIA with a ‘référé’ procedure that means the Paris court will convene as soon as reasonably possible – on 10 November – and make a provisional decision on the matter.

In that particular case, Villars is requesting the court demand the postponement of the FIA’s presidential election until a final ruling is made regarding the dispute.

“I have twice tried to open a constructive dialogue with the FIA on essential matters such as internal democracy and the transparency of electoral rules,” Villars said in a statement. “The responses received were not up to the challenge. I am not acting against the FIA. I am acting to protect it. Democracy is not a threat to the FIA; it is its strength.”

FIA flag

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

The court has also invited both parties to attend a conciliation meeting, Villars’ statement read.

“I will go to this mediation hearing with the same attitude I have maintained from the beginning – calm, openness, and determination,” she added. “I hope it will finally lead to a sincere dialogue in the service of a FIA that is more modern, fair, and connected to its members.”

Villars’ case has been praised by Mayer’s FIA Forward campaign as a positive step towards more transparency within the federation.

“As we disclosed in Austin, Texas, we have submitted ethics complaints in relation to the election,” the FIA Forward statement read. “To date we have not even received an acknowledgement from the FIA. This is typical of our experience of the handling of the election by the FIA and mirrors the experience of Laura's campaign.

“We applaud the action taken by Laura as an important step to implement the necessary reforms for democracy and transparency. We will be supporting her effort with all the considerable knowledge and experience of our team, ultimately in the interest of seeing an open election for the FIA Member Clubs.”

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