Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

This Mexican mayor has been slammed by his constituents for using a life-size cardboard cutout of himself to attend official events instead of showing up in person.

Moises Aguilar Torres, who is the Mayor of the town of Pichucalco, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, has been criticised for using a life-size cardboard cutout of himself with his thumbs up to attend events organised by his administration.

The mayor, who is a nurse, ordered for the cardboard cutout to be printed and sued to represent him at official events he is unable to attend in person.

Pictures of the cutout at events have been shared online and local media report local residents are upset with the situation as the events are used by residents to talk to the mayor face to face about their problems.

The residents say they often gave the mayor letters in person with their requests or problems but that instead they had to give the letters to members of the administration and they are unsure the letters will reach the mayor.

The administration has not said if the cutout will continue to be used. Local media report there is no precedent for mayors using cutouts for official events.

Pichucalco is a municipality located in northern Chiapas, near the border with the state of Tabasco, with a population of around 30,000 inhabitants.

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