虎口脱险

A |     Colombo, Oct 10 (UNI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced a raft of amendments to the electoral system, noting that the existing political system was a major cause for the current economic crisis.

“A referendum will be called to decide on the parliamentary electoral system if the Select Committee which is proposed to be established fails to decide on the matter by July next year,” the Daily FT newspaper quoted him as telling a meeting with professionals held at the President’s Office on Sunday.

The President said plans were also underway to slash the number of local government councillors by 50 per cent before the next election.

“Before the next election, I intend to reduce the number of council members for local governing bodies such as Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal Councils and Urban Councils from the current 8,000 to 4,000,” he added.

Wickremesinghe also said the ‘Jana Sabha’ will be introduced to streamline the local government councils.

“The Executive powers will be shifted to a chairman-led committee instead of a single chairman being vested with all the authority. The draft laws will be prepared to incorporate these amendments before the next local government elections,” he stressed.

Noting that the main cause for political corruption is the preferential system, President Wickremesinghe said a non-preferential list system or a mixed electoral system should be immediately adopted and restrictions should be imposed by the election law on the amount of money spent on elections.

“There are two main issues before the country today. One is the economic crisis while the other is the rejection of the political system by the majority of the population. Many are of the view that the cause of the economic collapse is the existing political system.

"Different groups have been formed within the Parliament due to the party system. I work for the people irrespective of narrow party lines,” he said.

The President cited fewer youth representatives as another key factor in the political parties today, the daily reported.

“Many work with the same old people just for namesake. There are no new organisations. Therefore, a separate law should be presented regarding the constitution of political parties, their work, how to recruit members, how to select central committees, and how to select candidates."

He also said the main reason for corruption in the country's politics is the preferential system, insisting that it was imperative to prepare a new voting system.

“A decision should be taken to implement either the list method without preference or the mixed method (single and proportional method). A decision should be taken after discussions before the upcoming election and that election should be held under the new system,” the Daily FT quoted him as saying.

Wickremesinghe also pointed out the need to curtail the election expenditure through the election laws.

“When I contested in the 1977 elections, there were limitations. We had to work in keeping with these limitations. We were unable to even spend on posters. Hence, we must introduce limitations on election expenditure.

“This will enhance transparency on how to collect money, and in what cases money cannot be collected. Then anyone can challenge the misuse of financials in the courts. I intend to appoint a separate commission to present their proposals in this regard. All this needs to be done next year,” he added.

He also pledged to present to Parliament a code of conduct and values of the MPs, similar to that in the British Parliament, the report added.

The President felt that if they bring all these rules and regulations and make these amendments, Parliament can win the people's trust again.

UNI MR。    「ABEMA」オリジナル“人生再スタートバラエティ”『資産、全部売ってみた』が19日にスタート。#1では、“自身の象徴”ともいえる誇らしい資産を売ったら一体いくらになるのか、その価値を数字化する「こじうり（誇示売り）企画」に歌手の鼠先輩が登場。

B | 大ヒット曲『六本木～GIROPPON～』の“歌唱印税の権利”を売却した場合の金額が査定された。

C | 【写真】こんなにつぶらな瞳だったんだ　サングラスを外した鼠先輩 　この番組は、芸能人が自らの意志で売れる資産を全部売却し、新たな夢に挑む姿に密着する、全3話の“人生再スタート応援バラエティ”。番組MCは、小島瑠璃子と平成ノブシコブシの吉村崇の2名が務める。

D | 　2008年の大ヒット曲『六本木～GIROPPON～』でブレイクした鼠先輩は、当時について「一番稼いだ月で1200万円」と振り返った。現在は地方営業が中心で、出演料は「最低3万～5万円、最高で100万円」と明かした。　また「歌唱印税は未だに入ってきます。テレビで歌が流れたり、ラジオで流れたり、サブスクだったり」と３ヵ月に一回、2～3万円の歌唱印税が振り込まれると説明。さらに都内に7000万～8000万円相当の一軒家を所有し、店舗プロデュースでは年間約100万円の収益もあることが紹介され、スタジオは驚きに包まれた。　番組では、そんな鼠先輩に「『六本木～GIROPPON～』の歌の権利、売りませんか？」と交渉を持ちかける。鼠先輩は「権利を売る？　売れないんじゃないですか？　いきなり何ですか」と困惑しつつも、話が進むと「100万円くらいで売れればありがたい」と予想を口にした。

E | 　一方で、売却には条件があるといい、「歌っていいなら売ります。

F | 歌っちゃいけないなら売らない。営業行けなくなっちゃう」と本音を吐露。

G | 「俺から『ぽっぽ』取ったら何も残らない」と、自身にとって楽曲が“資産”以上の存在であることをにじませた。　また、「仮に売れたら、そのお金を元手にやりたいことは？」と問われた鼠先輩は、「ネズミ駆除の会社とか」と意外な構想を告白。

H | 「本当の話、数年前にネズミ駆除の会社に話を聞きに行った」と明かし、実は以前から関心があったことを語った。　しかし当時は「資金がない。

I | 資金と知恵」と、現実的な壁もあったという。そこで相談相手として名前を挙げたのが、清掃業で起業した元お笑いコンビ・カラテカの入江慎也。鼠先輩から相談を受けた入江は、「めちゃくちゃ良いじゃないですか。

J | 初期費用もそんなにかからないと思う」と背中を押しつつ、「確実に“名前貸し”やりそうじゃないですか。

K | それだと絶対上手くいかない」と釘を刺し、成功のための重要な視点を提示した。

L | 　そして番組終盤では、スタジオに鼠先輩が登場。資産・権利の活用を支援する会社レナトスの岡崎真洋氏が『六本木～GIROPPON～』歌唱権の査定を担当したが、提示された金額はなんと「55万円」。まさかの査定額に、鼠先輩は思わず「帰れ！　お前もう帰れ！」と投げやりなツッコミを入れた一方、MCの吉村は「買おうかな！　55万だったら」と反応し、スタジオは笑いと驚きに包まれました。その後、“なぜ55万円なのか”という説明を聞いた吉村が「もし「作詞・作曲・歌唱を売ってたら...？」と質問。

M | そこで新たに提示された金額とは...？　果たして、鼠先輩は『六本木～GIROPPON～』売却を決断したのか！？ 　『資産、全部売ってみた』#1はABEMAで無料配信中。