FIDE is drawing a line in the sand. The organization just reminded all federations and potential candidates that campaigning for the 2026 elections cannot begin until June 26, exactly three months before voting on September 26-27. Anyone eyeing a position, whether on the FIDE Council or at the presidency level, needs to wait. No early promotion. No groundwork before the official window opens.
This isn't new territory. FIDE's Electoral Rules are clear: candidates stay quiet until the electoral period officially starts. But the timing of this reminder suggests FIDE wants everyone crystal clear as we enter 2025. Word spreads fast in chess politics. Candidates begin positioning themselves years in advance, building networks and support quietly. FIDE is telling them to stop.
The reminder applies to federations too. Officials can't use their positions to boost preferred candidates before June 26. It's a level playing field rule. Theoretically, anyway. Chess politics has always had back channels and handshake agreements that rules can't touch. But formally, FIDE is tightening the gate.
THE TAKEAWAY: FIDE is enforcing boundaries early to prevent the kind of behind-the-scenes maneuvering that typically haunts chess elections.