As the new Minister of the Interior, Carlos Negro, took office on Wednesday afternoon in a ceremony held at the Police School, he was joined by President Yamandú Orsi and Vice President Carolina Cosse. After greeting the authorities in attendance, the former prosecutor turned his attention to his family and outlined the three key areas that his department would prioritize. “High levels of violence have led to a surge in homicides, a plethora of firearms has facilitated the commission of crimes, and our prison system has proven that jails are a significant part of the problem,” he emphasized. “We will address these issues while respecting and protecting human rights – the rights of everyone.”
The Secretary of State announced plans to bolster personnel, increase patrols, and implement community-based policing through the reinstatement of the PADO and Community Police programs. Additionally, he mentioned the expansion of initiatives such as “Más barrio” and “Pelota al medio,” as well as the deployment of the Republic Guard. Investments in technology and training will also be made to enhance crime investigation and prosecution. “Our goal is to ensure that committing a crime in Uruguay comes with a price – that it’s not free to kill,” he said.
According to Negro, a top priority will be the intelligent suppression of organized crime and narcotics trafficking. “Those who commit crimes will have to pay the price,” he stated unequivocally. In another part of his speech, the former homicide prosecutor reflected on his life, family, and politics. “Forty years ago, Uruguayans regained democracy, and in my home – where my mother was a hairdresser and my father, a public servant dismissed by the dictatorship – it was a day of celebration. My father was eventually elected as a national representative in the first post-dictatorship legislature. This experience, along with my university activism, was perhaps my last involvement with politics until just a few days ago.”
Negro also spoke about his background and connection to the police force. “I come from a different place, having worked in the Prosecutor’s Office for nearly 32 years. I recently left my lifelong career to take on this challenge, convinced that there’s a great team in place to drive a paradigm shift in public security policy. I recognize the human capital within our police force, largely because I’ve worked alongside them for so long. I’m not alone, and neither are you,” he said, addressing his new colleagues.
When asked about his plans, Negro responded, “It’s true that I’ve provided some explanations, although perhaps they haven’t been fully understood – maybe because I’m not here to repetition empty formulas that sound good but are easy to applaud. I may not be, as they say in football, a sufficient ‘crowd-pleaser.'” With his characteristic candor, Negro is poised to tackle the complex challenges facing Uruguay’s interior ministry, bringing his decades of experience and a fresh perspective to the role.