An Election in Jahilia
Flash Fiction
The president of Jahilia decided that he should become life-president of the country, but swore on the Bible on national television that he would hold the most free and fair referendum before, allowing the opposition to campaign against the motion. And indeed he had every intention to hold a free and fair ballot. International observers from the United Nations, Amnesty International, Liberty, and even the more obscure Human Rights institutions were ostentatiously welcome, so sure was he of the outcome..
When the votes were counted, 95% of ballot declared against the motion, which permitted a Yes/ No answer: Do you approve of His Excellency being made Life-President of Jahilia?
That did not stop him declaring himself life-president. He appeared on television brandishing his Bible, beamed a smile at the nation and explained that 95% of the 21% of the electorate who voted amounted to just less than 20%, which meant that over 80% approved the motion.
He duly became life-president.
