Interpol should have a new head from a developing country to diversify the organization and increase its credibility as crime becomes increasingly global, Valdecy Urquiza, Brazil's candidate to lead the international police agency, told Reuters.
This will help Interpol strengthen global cooperation to combat transnational crime, said Urquiza, who currently serves as Director of the Brazilian Federal Police for International Cooperation.
In its 100th year, Interpol has been led by people from developed Western countries, from only five countries, namely America and four countries in Europe.
“This organization risks losing credibility and legitimacy if it isolates itself. What we need for Interpol to succeed is plurality,” Urquiza told Reuters in an interview on Friday.
“We need to make all countries feel included, so that all regions can be served.”
Interpol's executive committee will elect a new secretary general on February 13 for a five-year term who will replace its current leader, Germany's Juergen Stock.
The other three candidates put forward are Stephen Kavanagh from the UK who is currently Director of Police Services at Interpol, Mubita Nawa from Zambia and Faisal Shahkar from Pakistan.
Headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol is the world's largest police coordinating body with 196 member countries, networked with police from around the world.
Russia escaped a move to suspend him after invading Ukraine in 2022. Critics accuse Moscow of abusing Interpol tools, such as its so-called red notice system, to arrest political opponents abroad.
Urquiza, 42, is currently one of three vice presidents of Interpol. He said Brazil's neutral stance in various global affairs was an advantage.
“Interpol cannot be used for geopolitical purposes, so it is very important that the secretary general comes from a neutral country, and Brazil has that. Brazil is a reliable partner,” he continued. (uh/ns)