The Austrian Automobile Association (ÖAMTC) has issued a blistering warning to fellow FIA member clubs, cautioning that the governing body’s credibility is hanging by a thread amid proposed statute changes being championed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
In a sharply worded letter sent to members of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) and obtained by Reuters, the ÖAMTC makes clear its stance: the proposed amendments, set to be voted on at the FIA General Assembly in Macau on Thursday, represent a grave threat to the institution’s democratic integrity – and, by extension, its global standing.
The key concern? Among the proposed changes is a rule that would make it harder for candidates to challenge Ben Sulayem’s presidency, just months before the next election in December.
The Austrian club is urging a full removal of the vote from the agenda, warning that even the appearance of self-interest could do lasting damage.
A Veiled Power Grab?
In the letter, the ÖAMTC stops short of accusing Ben Sulayem outright of attempting to engineer the FIA statutes to suit his political ambitions — but the implication is unmistakable.
“There is no urgency regarding these proposed changes... they risk further contributing to the erosion of the FIA's reputation for competent and transparent governance,” the letter reads.
“It cannot be – and is not – a coincidence that changes relevant to the FIA’s elections have been promoted by the FIA’s leadership at the same time as the FIA’s incumbent president has announced an intention to run in those elections.”
The club adds:
“Where there is even a risk of these changes appearing to benefit the current FIA administration, and not the FIA itself, the changes should not be adopted.”
"Dark Period of Democratic Backsliding"
The letter escalates in tone as it outlines what it sees as a systemic erosion of transparency and internal accountability within the FIA’s highest ranks.
“The FIA has entered a dark period of democratic backsliding,” it declares.
“Recent actions and changes within the FIA are inviting comparisons with the excesses of political leaders intent on deconstructing the checks and balances that come with responsible governance.”
Read also: FIA clubs rally behind Ben Sulayem to block Sainz Sr.The Austrian club warns of a governance crisis in which oversight-free decisions are becoming normalized, and internal mechanisms for debate or dissent are breaking down.
“Governance systems, whether in politics or in governing bodies such as the FIA, face a crisis when oversight-free decisions become possible, and systems of accountability are undermined and made ineffective.”
Confidentiality Demands and Credibility in Crisis
The ÖAMTC also takes aim at what it describes as unprecedented pressure tactics allegedly employed by FIA leadership to muzzle dissenting voices within the organization.
“In the face of growing internal concern regarding the actions of the FIA leadership… the FIA’s leadership has also taken steps to limit the risk of external criticism,” it writes.
Specifically, the letter refers to what it describes as “personal contractual commitments” demanded of FIA officers, which include punitive financial penalties of up to €50,000 – plus possible undisclosed damages – for breaching strict confidentiality terms.
“This demand exists outside the FIA’s Statutes or governance terms, outside of the FIA’s internal regulations and outside employment law.”
The club concludes with a stark summary:
“Damage to the FIA’s credibility as an organisation has already occurred through repeated governance mis-steps and failings.”
“This is the consequence of a system of governance that is malfunctioning, due to the absence of normal internal debate and discussion.”
The ball now lies in the court of the FIA General Assembly. But with mounting internal resistance and sharp public criticism, any vote in support of the changes risks being seen not as reform – but as regression.
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