AFRINIC
ICANN CEO’s opposition to legal POAs will deter participation in AFRINIC elections
ICANN CEO Kurt Lindqvist’s stance against proxy voting in AFRINIC’s 2025 election threatens inclusive participation and governance equity.
Headline
ICANN CEO Kurt Lindqvist’s stance against proxy voting in AFRINIC’s 2025 election threatens inclusive participation and governance equity.
Context
Kurt Lindqvist’s opposition to the use of legal powers of attorney (POAs) in the June 2025 AFRINIC election represents a political posture that could undermine participatory governance. Hundreds of AFRINIC members had relied on proxies to ensure their votes were counted. But in a letter to the Official Receiver, Kurt Lindqvist is questioned the validity of this lawful mechanism, suggesting it might compromise election integrity. Importantly, no bylaws or legal provisions were cited as being violated. The concern was not legal—it was numerical. The accumulation of proxies was portrayed as a risk, even though the use of POAs is common in shareholder-style governance frameworks across the globe.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
This signals discomfort with a shift in participation. Rather than supporting broader enfranchisement, ICANN’s leadership appears wary of what increased involvement from previously marginalised stakeholders might mean. The issue, it seems, is not misuse—but rather, disruption of long-standing hierarchies. When a court-appointed receiver annulled the election based on a single disputed proxy, the decision rested on procedural grounds—not a rejection of POAs themselves. Yet ICANN’s CEO Kurt Lindqvist swiftly raised compliance concerns, steering the conversation away from inclusiveness and toward regulatory enforcement. One AFRINIC resource holder noted that POAs offered a legal, trusted means for safe participation. However, leadership messaging cast doubt on their legitimacy—without evidence of widespread abuse. That ambiguity has had a chilling effect on a tool essential for members facing intimidation or limited access. Also read: AFRINIC election lessons from proxy voting chaos Also read: AFRINIC’s governance in crisis: Is liquidation the only legal path forward?
Key Points
- ICANN CEO’s rejection of lawful proxy voting raises concerns about exclusion of marginalised AFRINIC stakeholders.
- Legal POAs were used to expand participation, but scrutiny over their volume risks reinforcing entrenched power.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
