Lucas Philippe named as new Interpol president

French police controller Lucas Philippe was elected president of Interpol on Thursday at its 93rd General Assembly in Morocco, the law enforcement agency announced on X.

He succeeds Emirati Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi, who faced multiple judicial complaints in Europe accusing him of torture.

The presidency of Interpol rotates every four years, though the role is largely symbolic.

Philippe, 53, also serves as counsellor for European and international affairs to the director of the French police.

According to Morocco's state news agency MAP, Philippe secured 84 votes, defeating Turkish candidate Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, who received 60.

During his campaign, Philippe declared: "My objective is clear: to consolidate the role of the organisation as a global reference for collective security."

Namibia's Anne-Marie Nainda and Ethiopia's Demelash Gebremichael Weldeyes trailed with 12 and eight votes, respectively.

The president presides over the agency's General Assembly, but day-to-day operations are overseen by the secretary general in Lyon, where Interpol has been headquartered since 1989.

The current secretary general is Brazilian Valdecy Urquiza, elected in November 2024 for a five-year term.

Interpol's leadership has often been marred by controversy. Raisi faced torture allegations, while former Chinese politician Meng Hongwei, elected in 2016, vanished from Lyon two years later. Beijing later confirmed he had returned to China to face corruption charges, for which he was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison in 2020.