FIA Presidency Term Limit Proposal
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), has proposed eliminating term limits for the presidency of motorsport's governing body. Ben Sulayem, 64, has led the FIA since December 2021 and was re-elected unopposed in December due to election rules that prevented other candidates from standing.
Currently, the FIA presidency term lasts four years, with a maximum of three terms allowed, meaning a 12-year limit. The proposed change would allow Ben Sulayem to remain president beyond this limit.
The amendment to the FIA's statutes is scheduled for discussion and voting at the upcoming FIA General Assembly, where it is anticipated to be approved by members.
An FIA spokesperson stated:
"A proposal has been put forward to establish a consistent approach to tenure across all FIA bodies, similar to what currently exists for the world councils and the senate. The proposal is subject to approval by the World Councils and by the General Assembly. FIA bodies retain full authority to democratically elect officeholders."
Other FIA positions with term limits include the president of the anti-doping committee and the head of the Formula 1 cost-cap committee.
The existing three-term limit was introduced by Ben Sulayem's predecessor Jean Todt, who succeeded Max Mosley. Mosley served as FIA president from 1993 until 2009, when he agreed not to stand again following a dispute with Formula 1 teams.
When asked by why the FIA chose to abolish term limits for all posts rather than introduce them for positions that currently lack them, an FIA spokesperson did not provide a specific rationale. However, the spokesperson referenced the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, noting that commissioner Roger Goodell has held his position since 2006 and has "transformed the sport into a global brand and it has an outstanding governance record."
In contrast, last year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach declined the opportunity to extend his tenure beyond 12 years, a change that would have required amending IOC statutes. Bach stated:
"Our organisation is best served with a change in leadership; new times are calling for new leaders."
Governance Concerns and Reactions
Tim Mayer, who was prevented from opposing Ben Sulayem in the FIA presidential election due to the organisation's election rules, told :
"Term limits are not a bureaucratic detail. They are a fundamental safeguard of good governance, recognised as essential to preventing the concentration of power, ensuring renewal of leadership, and maintaining accountability to those an organisation exists to serve."
Mayer also highlighted the IOC's approach, stating it has "treated this as a core governance principle."
Additional Proposed Changes to Election Rules
Alongside the proposal to remove term limits, two further changes to the FIA presidential election rules have been suggested:
- A new requirement for candidates to "demonstrate sufficient experience within an FIA member or an FIA body".
- The deadline for prospective presidential candidates to submit their list of vice-presidents has been extended from 49 days to 100 days before the election date.
These amendments would increase the difficulty for challengers to Ben Sulayem in future elections.
Context of Controversy
The proposal for indefinite presidential terms follows controversy surrounding Ben Sulayem and FIA governance. Last year, Mayer and two other individuals were barred from contesting the presidency due to a rule requiring candidates to submit a list of prospective vice-presidents for sport, with one candidate from each of the FIA's six global regions.
However, the published list contained only one candidate from South America: Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who was already part of Ben Sulayem's team. This prevented other candidates from nominating a vice-president from South America, effectively blocking their participation.
This rule was already in place before Ben Sulayem became president.
One of the prospective candidates, Laura Villars, is currently pursuing legal action against the FIA in French courts, challenging the election process.
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