Princess Haya to stand for a 3rd term
The FEI has announced that HRH Princess Haya has signaled her intention to stand for re-election as FEI president for a 3rd term.
The FEI statutes had previously limited presidents to 2 consecutive 4-year terms. However, a vote on amending the statutes to prolong the term of the president took place at the FEI extraordinary general assembly in Lausanne today (29 August).
103 national federations voted in favour and 3 voted against the amendment.
Princess Haya is the junior wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. Several nations had said they would oppose any movement to allow a 3rd term for Princess Haya because they believe it creates a “conflict of interest”.
Her husband Sheikh Mohammed had to order an investigation into his own equine operations, following a series of doping scandals.
The report, which was led by former Metropolitan Police Chief Lord Stephens, concluded that Sheikh Mohammed had no knowledge of the drug-related incidents and that the problems came from “a sense of complacency” within the Sheikh’s management structure.
Princess Haya was first elected in 2006. Since then she has brokered a number of high-value sponsorship packages for the FEI, including a 9-figure deal with watchmaker Longines.
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Princess Haya, who had previously ruled herself out of a 3rd term, said she was “hounoured to be given the opportunity”.
“I always felt that when people are given a responsibility, given faith and given belief, they are given an opportunity to do well in their lives and that’s what you’ve always given to me,” she added.
The FEI presidential election will take place at the general assembly in December. The FEI Bureau will decide on the application period for presidential candidates during its in-person meeting on 9 and 10 June.
The Swiss National Federation has already announced its support for Swiss businessman Pierre Genecand, although his candidacy has yet to be officially declared.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.