A feline has won over incumbent President Abdullah Yameen in a poll taken on twitter by Galolhu South Constituency MP Ahmed Mahloof.
MP Mahloof opened the poll on Tuesday for a period of 24 hours, in which 1385 twitter users had cast their votes. Eleven percent had polled to give a second term to President Yameen with 89 percent cast votes to usher in a cat as the leader of the nation.
2018 ge riyaasee inthikhaab ga vote dheynee ?
— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) October 24, 2017
Based on the responses to the poll, many had seen this as dry humor, with some tweeting that even a cat’s nomination must be reviewed seriously.
We need more details about the bulhaa.
— Nutz (@nahttuu) October 24, 2017
One of the best twitter voting!
— Ishag Shafeeg (@ishagshafeeg) October 25, 2017
Pro-Government twitter accounts had offered commentary on how the opposition was unable to offer a viable candidate for the 2018 elections and was forced to resort to a cat as a candidate.
Others had said this poll was long overdue.
Analytical, humorous, scientific, informative and logical. A poll long overdue. Thank you Mr Mahloof.
— Stealthy (@stealth311057) October 25, 2017
Political humor is part of democratic societies. However, political humor in the Maldives is very much stifled as those whom the humor is directed at are usually unable to take the humor.