Khattab speaks post-UNESCO election

CAIRO – 17 October 2017: The former Egyptian candidate for UNESCO's director general post revealed challenges she faced during the election, in an interview with Lamis Al Hadidy on CBC's "Hona Al Asema" on Monday.

Khattab, Former Minister of State for Family and Population, said that deals and the splitting of (African) votes have played a big role in her loss, as "It's an election, and every candidate uses their tools." Egypt didn't amass all African votes despite being a representative for the African Union, Khattab added.

Although it was expected that the Qatar-Gulf crisis would put Qatar in a weak position in the election, western symphathy towards Qatar was realized, Khattab said. "If I faced off against Qatar (in the runoff), I would have won," she exclaimed.

Indicating suspicious activities during the election, Khattab said that French media channels reported the presence of "Qatari political money" during the election race: "There were temptations and they were stronger than us. Egypt didn't resort to such methods.”

"When I called for investigation into violations that took place during the election, security guards were put on the doors of the three candidates' rooms, and I recognized weird movements", Khattab added.



French UNESCO Candidate Audrey Azoulay chats with Egyptian Candidate Moushira Khattab after first run-off that concludes in Egypt officially out of the race - Photo by Egypt Today


Khattab said that after she was set to face off with France's candidate Audrey Azoulay in the fourth round, a country among those who voted for Egypt withdrew. "Naming the country wouldn't help," she said. "We went into a battle; we didn't win, neither did we lose".