Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as FIA president for another four-year term, but the official announcement became a source of embarrassment for the federation. The General Assembly held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, confirmed the emirate’s candidate without opposition, as potential challengers had dropped out months earlier due to a little-known clause in the FIA statutes. While the result was expected, communicating it proved unexpectedly tricky for the organization.
On the FIA’s official X profile, the post announcing Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s victory was modified three times within a few hours. The first version read: “By a super majority, the FIA General Assembly has re-elected Mohammed Ben Sulayem as FIA president for a second four-year term.” In the second, the adjective “super” was removed, and in the final version, even the reference to a majority was eliminated entirely: “Following the vote of the General Assembly held in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected FIA President for his second four-year term.”
This was more than a mere stylistic error; it reflected an evident institutional embarrassment. Mentioning a majority when no opponents existed forced the FIA to neutralize the language of the announcement.
The broader context explains the nervousness. The re-election followed weeks of controversy surrounding FIA electoral rules, alongside a pending appeal at the Paris Tribunal initiated by Laura Villars, which is expected to be examined in early 2026. Critics argue that the absence of alternative candidates stems from the FIA statutes, which they claim make a genuine electoral challenge virtually impossible.
At the Tashkent assembly, Mohammed Ben Sulayem acknowledged the vote, thanking members for their support: “Thank you to all FIA members for voting in such large numbers and for once again placing your trust in me.” In the official note, seemingly responding to criticism, the FIA emphasized: “The election was conducted in accordance with the FIA statutes through a solid and transparent voting process, reflecting the federation’s democratic foundations and the collective voice of its global members.”
Despite these clarifications, the social media communication had an unintended effect. An uncontested election, announced via a post rewritten three times, became a striking illustration of the political tensions surrounding Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s second term and the challenges the FIA faces in managing its public narrative.
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