French Police Controller Appointed as New Interpol President

RABAT — French police official Lucas Philippe was elected as the new president of Interpol on Thursday during the organization’s 93rd General Assembly in Morocco. The international law enforcement agency announced the appointment in a post on the social media platform X.

Philippe, 53, who currently serves as a counsellor for European and international affairs to the director of the French police, secured the position with 84 votes. His closest competitor, Turkey’s Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, received 60 votes. Two other candidates—Namibia’s Anne-Marie Nainda and Ethiopia’s Demelash Gebremicheal Weldeyes—garnered 12 and eight votes, respectively.

Though the role of Interpol president is largely symbolic and rotates every four years, it holds significant prestige in global policing circles. The president chairs the General Assembly, while day-to-day operations are managed by the secretary general from Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon, France.

In his campaign, Philippe emphasized his commitment to strengthening the organization’s role in international security. “My objective is clear: to consolidate the role of the organization as a global reference for collective security,” he stated.

The secretary general position is currently held by Brazil’s Valdecy Urquiza, who began a five-year term in November 2024.

Philippe’s election continues a tradition of European leadership within Interpol and reflects ongoing international collaboration in combating cross-border crime.

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