Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for New Neighborhood Policy, plans to quit the European Commission and continue her career as Director General of UNESCO.
“It is my ambition to raise the organization’s political profile, tap its true potential and give it the visibility it deserves,” she said.
Nevertheless, she has acknowledged that she does not have the full backing of European governments, some of which support rival bids by Lithuania’s UNESCO ambassador Ina Marciulionyte and Bulgarian ambassador to France Irina Bokova.
Supported by France, Egypt’s Culture Minister Farouk Hosni also runs for the post.
To be elected, a candidate should get at least 32 votes out of 58.
