FIA presidential election held in shadow of old ruler Mosley

Jean Todt and Ari Vatanen compete for most significant role in international motoring and motor sport

Max Mosley

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The International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) member clubs will gather today, Friday, in the umbrella organisation’s general assembly to choose its new chairman for the term 2009-2013.
      FIA’s current chairman Max Mosley will leave the post. His successor candidates are the French ex-Ferrari team boss Jean Todt and the former European parliamentarian and world rally champion Ari Vatanen of Finland.
      The election battle has been fierce and exceptionally public and not completely without mud-slinging, either.
     
From the quarrelling, one might almost have got the impression that Vatanen is running against Mosley, who has used all his powers to ensure Todt’s election.
      For Vatanen it has been an easy task to respond to Mosley’s criticisms, for the Finn’s election theme is change.
      Vatanen’s message has met with some sympathetic ears, especially after Mosley wrote a somewhat bitter letter to Prince Feisal of Jordan, who had announced his decision to back Vatanen.
      In the letter Mosley predicted that Vatanen would “lose and lose badly”. He also accused Vatanen of lying and of insulting the FIA.
      Mosley also intimidated the member clubs by saying that appointing Vatanen would be a threat to the unity of the FIA.
     
The latest cause of conflict was over the electoral system. The FIA led by Mosley wanted to use ballots with the names of the voters printed on them.
      Vatanen was dead against this, as in that case the ballot would no longer be secret.
      In Vatanen’s camp it is believed that under a secret ballot many of the member organisations would be ready to break away from Mosley’s leash.
      Vatanen already brought an action against the FIA in a French court, but withdrew it after a meeting with Mosley and Todt, in which a secret ballot was agreed upon.
     
The public arm-wrestling has rather eclipsed the fact that the political agendas of both candidates are pretty trivial.
      Vatanen has been criticised for the fact that he has never before led an international organisation.
      Todt has had an impressive career in various leading roles within motorsports, but his imagined trump-card, namely the backing of the outgoing Mosley, may also prove his downfall.
      FIA member organisations have grown tired of Mosley’s dictator-like leadership style, and Todt has not demonstrated any kind of separation from this.
      Hence in this election the focus is on personalities rather than on political agendas.
     
The FIA has 221 member organisations in 132 different countries.
      Each member country has two votes at their disposal, one for civilian motoring and one for motor racing.
      If a country is not unanimous, it has to leave an empty ballot. This favours small countries, which also shows in the candidates’ electioneering.
      The candidate with the absolute majority of the votes cast will be elected, together with the 22-member ‘cabinet’ that he has chosen.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ari Vatanen - MEP Sans Frontières (8.6.2004)

Links:
  Fédération Internationale de l´Automobile (Wikipedia)
  FIA website
  Ari Vatanen (Wikipedia)
  Jean Todt (Wikipedia)

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