The appointment of Luís Neves as Minister of Internal Administration was received with a political unanimity that is as rare as it is disturbing. When figures from opposing ideological quarters converge in almost automatic applause, it is not illegitimate to ask whether the merit of the nominee is celebrated or whether, for convenience, a more demanding debate about his career and public positions is avoided.
Luís Neves brings with him a respectable technical CV, but also statements that raise reservations. Among them, the controversial statement that the increase in crime corresponds mainly to “perceptions”. Perhaps this formulation was unfortunate, as well as politically reckless, because it denotes a worrying gap between institutional discourse and social sentiment, even more so when there are no solid numbers to support any positions.
In a ministry where public trust is as essential as operational effectiveness, relativizing the insecurity felt by citizens is not just a rhetorical error: it could be a political risk.
Furthermore, his career took place almost exclusively within police and investigation structures, which raises a central question: will he have the necessary negotiating flexibility to deal with security force unions, which are historically demanding and have little tolerance for hierarchical logic imported from the chain of command? Experience shows that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not governed solely with technical competence; governs with listening capacity, political skill and institutional sensitivity.
The surprising transversal acceptance of your choice can, paradoxically, become a burden. The higher the initial expectation, we know that the more severe the judgment will be in the face of any failure.
Luís Neves starts his role with the benefit of the doubt. However, he will also have the weight of proving that he is not just a good police officer promoted to minister, but a true political leader capable of responding, without evasions, to the country’s real concerns.
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