Interpol has elected a senior Chinese government official as its new president | Rosland Rahman/AFP via Getty Images Chinese official to become head of Interpol Rights advocates worry the appointment opens the door to abuse of power.

Interpol has elected a senior Chinese government official as its new president, the organization announced Thursday.

Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei will be the first Chinese to hold Interpol's top post. He was officially named at the International Criminal Police Organization's general assembly in Bali.

“We currently face some of the most serious global public security challenges since World War II,” Meng said, stressing that Interpol must commit to innovating its "work mechanisms" as it adapts to a changing security situation.

The appointment has drawn criticism from rights advocates, who worry that the lack of transparency and abuses within China's legal system could lead to similar misuse of power within the international organization.

Interpol's charter officially prohibits it from engaging in "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character." But critics say some governments, primarily Russia and Iran, have abused the system to harass and detain opponents.

Meng's election "will probably embolden and encourage abuses in the system," Maya Wang, a Hong Kong-based researcher with Human Rights Watch told the AP.

As president, Meng will be a largely symbolic figure but also lead the executive committee that guides and implements decisions made by its general assembly.

Meng takes over from Mireille Ballestrazzi with immediate effect, for a period of four years.

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