FIA Members Approve Governance Changes Amid Criticism Ahead of Presidential Election

The FIA General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved significant changes to the governing body's statutes and ethics code. The vote, held recently in Macau, is widely seen as a political victory for incumbent President Mohammed Ben Sulayem as he prepares for re-election later this year. The amendments, backed by substantial majorities of 83.35% for the statutes and 88.83% for the ethics code, introduce several key alterations. These include advancing the deadline for potential presidential candidates to declare their intentions, increasing the president's influence over the composition of the FIA Senate, and aligning the terms of office for the audit, ethics, and nomination committees with the president's four-year term. Furthermore, the changes incorporate provisions allowing for the potential blocking of candidates whose past record raises questions about their integrity. While the FIA stated the changes are designed to strengthen corporate governance, confidentiality, and ensure rigour in the electoral process, the move has drawn criticism from some corners. Concerns have been raised about a potential erosion of governance standards and accountability within the federation. Some critics argue that the timing of these changes, occurring just months before the presidential election, risks creating the appearance of benefiting the current administration. Despite these concerns and public statements against the proposals from bodies like the Austrian Automobile Association (OAMTC), the strong vote in favour demonstrates significant support for President Ben Sulayem among the FIA's member clubs worldwide. He currently appears set to run unopposed in the December election, although rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr had previously indicated he was considering a bid. Ben Sulayem enjoys robust backing from clubs in various regions, including the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The approval of these new statutes and ethics code marks a notable development in the internal governance of motorsport's global governing body, solidifying the framework under which the upcoming presidential election will take place and potentially influencing the balance of power within the organisation for the next term.