Johan Eliasch obtained new citizenship in record time to save his presidential position — now Norway and six of the world’s most powerful ski nations are responding by demanding his replacement.

Johan Eliasch is a highly controversial president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), regarded as both autocratic and undemocratic. Now, several of the most powerful ski nations want to replace the Swedish-British multimillionaire. 

“We believe that incumbent president Johan Eliasch should not continue to lead FIS. The reasons for this include a lack of transparency and involvement, the management of shared funds that depletes the organization’s reserves, and the reputation of international ski sport,” says Ola Keul, Secretary General of the Norwegian Ski Association, in a statement from the Association on Friday. 

Norway, together with the USA, Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Canada, has now written a letter to FIS expressing their serious concern about the direction the organization is heading. 

Unwanted, but nominated regardless

Neither Sweden nor Great Britain wanted to nominate Eliasch for re-election. Normally, this would have marked the end of his tenure as FIS president, as a person is nominated by a nation where they hold citizenship.

However, in April, Eliasch found a new twist and obtained a new citizenship in record time. He is now nominated for re-election by Georgia.

Read More: No support from Sweden – Eliasch secures new citizenship

Four other candidates are running against Eliasch: The United Kingdom has nominated Victoria Gosling for president. According to several media outlets, she will compete against Dexter Paine (USA), Alexander Opselt (Liechtenstein), and Anna Harboe Falkenberg (Denmark).

At the same time, there are also elections for members of the FIS Council. Norway has nominated Tove Moe Dyrhaug for re-election to the council. The elections for both the council and the president will take place at the FIS Congress in Serbia from June 11 to 12.