Election of INTERPOL President, 21 November 2018

Summary:

On 21 November 2018, during the annual congress in Dubai, Interpol elected South Korean Kim Jong-yang as President with a two-third majority.  Interpol called a snap election as former President Meng Hongwei disappeared and resigned after facing allegations of corruption.  The newly elected President will serve the remaining two years of his predecessor's term.

Further information:

Since this was a snap election, the term for Interpol presidency is shorter than the usual four year term.

Before the election there were widespread concerns about the possible election of Alexander Prokopchuk of Russia .

Official

INTERPOL: President https://www.interpol.int/About-INTERPOL/Structure-and-governance/President

UK Parliament, 20.11.18: Interpol Presidency Election: Urgent question as candidate accused of corruption https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2018/november/interpol-presidency-election-urgent-question-on-candidate-accused-of-corruption-/

INTERPOL, 21.11.18: INTERPOL’s General Assembly elects Kim Jong Yang as new President https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-media/News/2018/N2018-139

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News

EurActiv, 22.11.18: Interpol elects South Korean as president, Russia condemns Western pressure https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/interpol-elects-south-korean-as-president-russia-condemns-western-pressure/

EurActiv, 21.11.18: Criticism mounts as Interpol set to elect Russian as president https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/criticism-mounts-as-interpol-set-to-elect-russian-as-president/

euronews, 21.11.18: Putin loyalist loses bid to run Interpol after U.S. lobbying campaign https://www.euronews.com/2018/11/21/russia-loses-interpol-presidential-bid-after-u-s-lobbying-campaign-n938806

euronews, 21.11.18: South Korean Kim Jong Yang elected new head of Interpol https://www.euronews.com/2018/11/21/south-korean-kim-jong-yang-elected-new-head-of-interpol

Bloomberg, 21.11.18: Interpol Picks Korean as New President in Snap Election, Crushing Russian Hopes https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-21/interpol-selects-korean-as-new-president-in-snap-election

Politico, 21.11.18: Interpol elects South Korean as president over Russian rival https://www.politico.eu/article/kim-jong-yang-interpol-elects-south-korean-as-president-over-russian-rival/

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Commentary and Analysis

Bloomberg, 20.11.18: Don’t Let Russia Lead Interpol The international law-enforcement organization is dangerously close to losing its legitimacy https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-11-20/interpol-russian-leadership-would-be-a-disaster

The New York Times, 20.11.18: Leading Candidate to Head Interpol Is Russian, Drawing Western Objections https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/world/europe/russia-interpol-china-president.html

EUobserver, 20.11.18: Boycott threats mount on eve of Interpol election https://euobserver.com/justice/143446

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