The BuettnerPein ticket called on FIDE and its Electoral Commission to respond to a series of formal submissions concerning the integrity, neutrality and transparency of the 2026 FIDE Presidential election.
Despite several written requests over recent weeks, the campaign has received no substantive response.
Most recently, on 11 August, Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein submitted a formal complaint to the FIDE Electoral Commission concerning questions of candidate eligibility, disclosure obligations, conflicts of interest and possible violations of the FIDE Electoral Rules and Ethics & Disciplinary Code.
The complaint formally requested that the Electoral Commission examine the matters raised and issue a reasoned determination.
The BuettnerPein campaign deliberately refrained from publicising the substance of the complaint at the time of submission in order to give the Electoral Commission the opportunity to examine the issues independently, impartially and without public pressure.
One week has now passed, and the campaign has not been informed that an examination has commenced, nor has it received a timetable for consideration of the complaint.
The complaint is not the only election-integrity matter on which the campaign is awaiting a response.
On 6 August, Jan Henric Buettner issued a formal cease-and-desist notice concerning the possible use of FIDE personnel, resources and financial assets in support of a presidential campaign. The notice requested written confirmation within seven days that the matters raised had been reviewed and that appropriate steps had been taken to ensure FIDEs institutional neutrality and equal treatment of candidates.
No substantive response has been received.
Earlier, on 9 July, the campaign submitted proposals designed to strengthen the independence and integrity of the voting process itself.
These included a proposal that each presidential candidate be permitted to nominate a potential independent scrutineer, with the FIDE Council then nominating three scrutineers for approval by the General Assembly in accordance with the Electoral Rules.
A separate proposal sought practical safeguards for ballot secrecy, including independent oversight of the polling area and measures preventing delegates from photographing or otherwise recording their completed ballots.
These proposals were intended to ensure that every delegate can vote freely and according to their conscience, without being asked or pressured to provide evidence afterwards of how they voted.
No substantive response has been received to either proposal.
Jan Henric Buettner, candidate for FIDE President, said:
We have deliberately tried to handle these matters through FIDEs institutions rather than through the media.
We believe in due process, and we believe the Electoral Commission must be given the opportunity to do its work independently.
But due process also requires a process.
When serious questions concerning candidate eligibility, conflicts of interest, institutional neutrality and ballot integrity are formally submitted, candidates and federations are entitled to know that those questions are being examined and when a decision can be expected.
We are not asking FIDE to decide these matters in our favour. We are asking FIDE to decide them.
IM Malcolm Pein, candidate for FIDE Deputy President, added:
This election belongs to the 204 national federations. Every candidate deserves equal treatment, and every delegate deserves absolute confidence that their vote is free, secret and protected.
The safeguards we have proposed are simple and practical. There is no reason why transparency, independent scrutiny and genuine ballot secrecy should be controversial.
The BuettnerPein ticket therefore calls upon FIDE and the Electoral Commission to confirm:
1. whether the formal complaint of 11 August has been accepted for examination and what procedure and timetable will apply;
2. what action has been taken in response to the cease-and-desist notice concerning institutional neutrality and equal treatment of candidates;
3. how FIDE intends to ensure independent scrutiny of the Presidential election; and
4. what practical safeguards will be implemented to guarantee genuine secrecy of the ballot.
The BuettnerPein ticket remains committed to a fair election, equal treatment of all candidates, genuine ballot secrecy and respect for FIDEs institutions.
The campaign will continue to use the appropriate institutional procedures rather than prejudge matters that properly belong before FIDEs competent bodies.
However, with the Presidential election approaching, these questions cannot remain unanswered indefinitely.
The BuettnerPein ticket therefore respectfully asks FIDE to provide clarity without further delay.
All rights available under the FIDE Charter, the FIDE Electoral Rules and other applicable regulations, including rights of review before the competent appellate bodies, are expressly reserved.
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Jan Henric Buettner Candidate for FIDE President
IM Malcolm Pein Candidate for FIDE Deputy President
