| Agency Name: | Ministry of the Interior |
| Nativename: | Ministerio del Interior |
| Type: | Ministry |
| Jurisdiction: | Government of Uruguay |
| Headquarters: | Montevideo |
| Motto: | Libertad en el Orden (Freedom in the Order) |
| Minister1 Name: | Nicolás Martinelli |
| Website: | Ministry of the Interior |
The Ministry of the Interior (Spanish; Castilian: Ministerio del Interior) of Uruguay is the ministry of the Government of Uruguay that is responsible for controlling, regulating and evaluating policies, programs and plans related to public safety, as well as guaranteeing citizens the free exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.[1]
This ministry is in charge of the Uruguayan police force, as well as the fire department. In addition, it is responsible for issuing the identity card and other documents, through the National Directorate of Civil Identification. This government department is headquartered in Mercedes Road in Barrio Centro, Montevideo. The current Minister of the Interior is Nicolás Martinelli who has held the position since November 6, 2023.[2]
It was created during the Provisional Government of José Rondeau on 22 December 1828 as the Ministry of Government and Foreign Affairs, but in 1856 it was divided to give rise to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Government. In 1943 it is finally renamed as Ministry of Interior.
The Ministry's Security Cabinet has as its main mission the coordination and articulation of actions related to the conservation of order and public safety.
This cabinet is chaired by the Minister of the Interior and is composed, by the Undersecretary, the Director General of the Secretariat, the Director of the National Police, the Director of the Republican Guard, the Chief of Police of Montevideo, the Chief of Police of Canelones, the General Director of Information and Police Intelligence, the General Director of Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking and the General Director of Combating Organized Crime and Interpol.[3]
List of ministers for the interior of Uruguay since 1943:
| Period | Minister | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1943–1944 | Héctor Gerona | Colorado Party |
| 1944–1947 | Juan Carbajal Victorica | |
| 1947–1948 | Giordano B. Eccher | |
| 1948–1949 | Alberto Zubiría | |
| 1949–1950 | José L. Peña | |
| 1950 | Alfredo Zubiría | |
| 1950–1951 | Dardo Regules | |
| 1951–1952 | Juan Francisco Guinchon | |
| 1952–1955 | Antonio Gustavo Fusco | |
| 1955–1956 | Francisco Gamarra | |
| 1956–1958 | ||
| 1958–1959 | ||
| 1959–1960 | Pedro B. Berro | |
| 1960 | Carlos V. Puig (interino) | |
| 1960–1963 | Nicolás Storace Arrosa | |
| 1963–1965 | Felipe Gil | |
| 1965–1966 | Adolfo Tejera | |
| 1966–1967 | Nicolás Storace Arrosa | |
| 1967–1968 | Augusto Legnani | Colorado Party |
| 1968 | ||
| 1968–1969 | Alfredo Lepro | |
| 1969–1970 | Pedro W. Cersósimo | |
| 1970–1971 | Antonio Francese | Coorp. |
| 1971 | Santiago de Brum Carbajal | Colorado Party |
| 1971–1972 | Danilo Sena | |
| 1972 | Colorado Party | |
| 1972–1973 | Walter Ravenna | Dictatorship |
| 1973–1974 | Cnel. Néstor Bolentini | |
| 1974–1979 | Gral. Hugo Linares Brum | |
| 1979–1981 | Tte. Gral. Manuel Núñez | |
| 1981–1983 | Gral. Yamandú Trinidad | |
| 1983–1984 | Gral. Hugo Linares Brum | |
| 1984–1985 | Gral. Julio C. Rapela | |
| 1985–1986 | Carlos Manini Ríos | Colorado Party |
| 1986–1989 | ||
| 1989 | Francisco Forteza (hijo) | |
| 1989–1990 | Flavio Buscasso | |
| 1990–1993 | ||
| 1993–1994 | Raúl Iturria | |
| 1994–1995 | ||
| 1995–1998 | Colorado Party | |
| 1998 | ||
| 1998–2004 | ||
| 2004 | Daniel Borrelli | |
| 2004–2005 | Alejo Fernández Cháves | |
| 2005–2007 | José Díaz | Broad Front |
| 2007–2009 | ||
| 2009–2010 | ||
| 2010–2020 | ||
| 2020-2021 | ||
| 2021-2023 | ||
| 2023-Incumbent | Nicolás Martinelli |