MP hopeful hits campaign trail with lion in Egypt

Cairo: A contender for the Egyptian parliament has obtained the services of a special promoter to help with his campaign — a lion!

Saber Abu Khashaba, standing as an independent, appeared at an election rally in his hometown Menufiya, 80km north of Cairo, standing next to the caged lion.

He posted photos on his Facebook page of himself surrounded by cheering supporters as he stood on top of the cage.

The election commission had assigned the lion symbol to his campaign and Abu Khashaba said he wanted to live up to that image.

Election symbols are aimed at helping illiterate voters in Egypt identify contestants in the parliamentary race.

“The purpose of showing up with a real lion is to present a different kind of campaign,” Abu Khashaba said.

The candidate’s unusual comes days before the start of the second and final round of the parliamentary elections in Egypt.

A total of 282 seats are up for grabs in the two-day polls, which begin on Sunday in 13 of Egypt’s 27 governorates. The first phase was held in the 14 others last month.