In reply to Ryan Hellyer.

I think he should step down. He is 66 years old. Not that that is an impediment for a person to perform their duties, of course (the president of the world’s most notorious country is 74 years old), but on the same page, there is nothing wrong with retiring around that age. Why can’t he live a quiet and peaceful life away from the project? I think it is stubborn from him to try to grapple to a position that he is clearly not wanted in anymore. A smooth respectful move would be to admit wrongdoing, accept resignation and move on with his life. That said, I see little to no chance of him being able to realistically keep any kind of power. At the end of the day, foundations and organizations are a representation of their members. If a majority (or a significant minority, say 40%) of the FSF (and SFC and GNU and similar groups) don’t want him as their leader, why should he insist so fiercely? I get it is a harsh change in his life to suddenly turn away from the thing he has been doing for so long, but let’s face it, this is no world for old men. He can continue to travel and make Q&A sessions and give speeches, just now as an “important figure in the history of Free/Open Source software, GNU and tech”, instead as “chairman of this big organization”. Come on, Mr. Stallman. If you are reading this, come to your senses. Be reasonable just this once. Everyone will thank you. Wish you a good peaceful retirement life.