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Irina Bokova, Bulgaria’s ambassador to France, was last night elected director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in the fifth and final round of voting in Paris by the 58 member states making up Unesco’s executive board. She obtained 31 votes, beating Farouk Hosny, 71, Egypt’s minister of culture, who won 27 votes – see press release. If, as is expected, the appointment is confirmed by the body’s general conference when it meets next month Bokova, 57, would be the first woman, and the first East European, to head the agency. Hosny would have been the first from the Arab world.

Only a few weeks ago Bokova was considered a long shot for the post, with Hosny the longstanding favourite among the initial nine candidates. But Hosny’s campaign was dogged in the runup to the election by allegations that he had made antisemitic comments, and concerns over Egypt’s poor track record on liberty of expression.

Hosny nonetheless enjoyed a strong lead in the first three rounds of voting, which began last Thursday, but on each occasion fell short of securing the 30 votes absolute majority needed to clinch victory. As other candidates dropped out of the race over the weekend, however, Bokova picked up votes, and surged in the fourth round on Monday to tie with Hosny on 29 votes, and forcing a fifth and final round – unprecedented in Unesco’s history. Had it gone to a tie, the the winner would have been picked by drawing lots, according to Unesco’s rules. Bokova will serve a four-year term of office beginning 15 November, and may stand for election for a maximum of one further term.