The FIA has been summoned to a hearing in a French court after prospective presidential candidate Laura Villars took legal action over “serious democratic shortcomings” regarding the electoral process.
Swiss racing driver Villars was one of three candidates – along with Tim Mayer and Virginie Philippot – who announced their intention to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year’s elections. Mayer publicly announced his withdrawal two weeks ago, citing the process – which requires future vice presidents drawn from a list of members approved by the World Motor Sport Council – making it impossible to challenge the incumbent president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The presidential list is meant to include candidates from the FIA’s six global regions, but this year’s WMSC list includes just one name from South America – Fabiana Ecclestone – who is already a member of Ben Sulayem’s team.
Although neither of the other two candidates has also submitted presidential lists, the Paris Court has authorized Villars to summon the FIA for a hearing on November 10 while it takes legal action “to ensure transparency, ethics and democratic pluralism within the FIA.”
“I have tried twice to open a constructive dialogue with the FIA on essential issues such as internal democracy and the transparency of election rules,” said Villars. “The responses received were not up to the challenge. I do not act against the FIA. I act to protect it. Democracy is not a threat to the FIA; it is its strength.”
In addition to the approval to summon the FIA, both the governing body and Villars have been invited by the court to attend a mediation meeting; Villars confirmed she will attend the meeting “in a spirit of openness and good faith.”
Villars’ lawyer, Maitre Robin Binsard, says the progress shows that the urgency of the matter is being recognized as the presidential elections are currently scheduled for December 12.
“We have been authorized an hour-by-hour emergency call, which shows that the Court is taking seriously the serious democratic failings within the FIA, as well as several breaches of the statutes and regulations that we have exposed.”
The move was welcomed by Mayer, with his team saying it will support the rival candidate where necessary.
“As we announced in Austin, Texas, we have filed ethics complaints related to the election,” said a statement from Mayer’s campaign. “To date we have not even received confirmation from the FIA. This is typical of our experience with the FIA’s handling of the elections and reflects the experience of Laura’s campaign.
“We applaud Laura’s action as an important step to implement the necessary reforms for democracy and transparency. We will support her efforts with all the considerable knowledge and experience of our team, ultimately in the interests of an open election for the FIA member clubs.”
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