A very detailed report on yesterday's meeting from
Peter Doggers including Kirsan dragging a translator into the room just to make sure there were no misunderstandings. Looks pretty certain we will have a new FIDE President in around 18 months time. Three highlights:
"In short, Makropoulos can now represent FIDE officially, he can solely sign for FIDE (though contracts are still subject to prior approval or subsequent ratification by the Presidential Board), and he presides over the meetings of the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Presidential Board. "I was already doing this, technically, but now it's completely clear," Makropoulos said to Chess.com.".....
....."Until the new elections in 2018, Ilyumzhinov is a FIDE President with hardly any power. Furthermore, if the U.S. sanctions against him will still be in place, it will be difficult for him to run for another term. In fact, yesterday the members of the Presidential Board repeated what was said in September 2016 in Baku: it won't be possible. "It is clear that we have serious problems because of the sanctions. A lot of western sponsors are very skeptical to deal with FIDE," said Makropoulos. "And I don't think the sanctions can be removed." Ilyumzhinov didn't seem much affected about losing even more power: "I spent so much money and time on chess, but I never made major decisions myself, and I never interfered with the work of commissions. Makropoulos always had this power. I was never interested in it. I am not really a president, I am a maecenas.".....
.... (Makropoulos)"I believe the other Russian officials should stop playing this little game. I understand that FIDE is very important for Russia. But they should understand also that nobody from our group, who has supported Kirsan for all these years, will sacrifice FIDE just to keep the good relations with some of the officials. They should understand that it's time to have a change here."