Labours of Gota
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) is planning to put an end to the practice of conducting expensive election campaigns, according to his media division. He said so, at a meeting with a group of prelates, on Wednesday, we are told. He has struck a responsive chord with the public, who are fed up with politics and politicians. Colossal amounts of funds are spent on election propaganda, aimed at duping the people and helping even political dregs get returned.
President GR made a difference in electioneering, as the SLPP presidential candidate, last year; his campaign was environment-friendly and without cut-outs, posters and rants against his rivals. But, the fact remains that his propaganda campaign, conducted via the electronic and print media was extremely expensive. Neither he nor any other candidate has disclosed campaign expenditure. No presidential candidate has done so, since 1982. Hence the need for new laws to make it mandatory for candidates to reveal sources of funding and campaign expenditure, and impose a ceiling on election related funds and expenses!
The current wall of secrecy, anent the cost of electioneering, promotes corruption and other such illegal activities. Nabobs, rolling in black money, part with a fraction of their ill-gotten wealth to help their favourites financially; later, they enlist the latter’s backing to put crooked deals through and amass wealth, far in excess of their campaign ‘donations’. This is the name of the game in politics.
The present electoral system has been blamed for huge campaign expenditure, election violence, and the dependency of candidates on corrupt moneybags for funds. It is said that a candidate has to campaign in an entire electoral district, spending a lot of money, to secure enough preferential votes to get elected. But, it is possible for candidates to enter Parliament without spending colossal amounts of funds on campaigns. Education Minister Dallas Alahapperuma polled the highest number of preferential votes (105,406) in the Matara District, at the last general election (2015), without wasting money on election propaganda. His campaign was devoid of posters, cut-out and even leaflets. His example is worthy of emulation.
It is also popularly claimed that the preferential vote is the mother of all election-related clashes. But the JVP has given the lie to this claim. Its candidates put the party before self and refrain from promoting themselves during elections. Never do they fight over preferential votes or manape. If their counterparts, in other parties, do likewise, there will be no manapa pora or battles for preferential votes. Even the worst critics of the JVP cannot but admire the exemplary manner in which its candidates contest elections. Thus, it may be seen that the blame for violent clashes, over preferential votes, should be laid at the feet of the party leaders who cannot make their candidates fall in line.
Strangely, the JVP has joined those who are opposed to the preferential vote in demanding its abolition. The manape must not be done away with, for it enables people to elect the candidates of their choice. If it is abolished, party leaders will be free to appoint their favourites on nomination lists to the slots their parties secure in Parliament, at the expense of the deserving ones who are not in their good books.
President GR’s mission to drain the swamp and bring about a people-friendly political culture reminds us of the labours of Hercules. We can only hope that he will succeed in his endeavour. Stiff resistance, to his efforts, is likely to come from within his own camp.
Now that the President has expressed his desire to have election campaigns scaled down, it is hoped that he will prevail upon his family members to set an example to others. This may be half the battle in achieving his objective.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) is planning to put an end to the practice of conducting expensive election campaigns, according to his media division. He said so, at a meeting with a group of prelates, on Wednesday, we are told. He has struck a responsive chord with the public, who are fed up with politics and politicians. Colossal amounts of funds are spent on election propaganda, aimed at duping the people and helping even political dregs get returned.
President GR made a difference in electioneering, as the SLPP presidential candidate, last year; his campaign was environment-friendly and without cut-outs, posters and rants against his rivals. But, the fact remains that his propaganda campaign, conducted via the electronic and print media was extremely expensive. Neither he nor any other candidate has disclosed campaign expenditure. No presidential candidate has done so, since 1982. Hence the need for new laws to make it mandatory for candidates to reveal sources of funding and campaign expenditure, and impose a ceiling on election related funds and expenses!
The current wall of secrecy, anent the cost of electioneering, promotes corruption and other such illegal activities. Nabobs, rolling in black money, part with a fraction of their ill-gotten wealth to help their favourites financially; later, they enlist the latter’s backing to put crooked deals through and amass wealth, far in excess of their campaign ‘donations’. This is the name of the game in politics.
The present electoral system has been blamed for huge campaign expenditure, election violence, and the dependency of candidates on corrupt moneybags for funds. It is said that a candidate has to campaign in an entire electoral district, spending a lot of money, to secure enough preferential votes to get elected. But, it is possible for candidates to enter Parliament without spending colossal amounts of funds on campaigns. Education Minister Dallas Alahapperuma polled the highest number of preferential votes (105,406) in the Matara District, at the last general election (2015), without wasting money on election propaganda. His campaign was devoid of posters, cut-out and even leaflets. His example is worthy of emulation.
It is also popularly claimed that the preferential vote is the mother of all election-related clashes. But the JVP has given the lie to this claim. Its candidates put the party before self and refrain from promoting themselves during elections. Never do they fight over preferential votes or manape. If their counterparts, in other parties, do likewise, there will be no manapa pora or battles for preferential votes. Even the worst critics of the JVP cannot but admire the exemplary manner in which its candidates contest elections. Thus, it may be seen that the blame for violent clashes, over preferential votes, should be laid at the feet of the party leaders who cannot make their candidates fall in line.
Strangely, the JVP has joined those who are opposed to the preferential vote in demanding its abolition. The manape must not be done away with, for it enables people to elect the candidates of their choice. If it is abolished, party leaders will be free to appoint their favourites on nomination lists to the slots their parties secure in Parliament, at the expense of the deserving ones who are not in their good books.
President GR’s mission to drain the swamp and bring about a people-friendly political culture reminds us of the labours of Hercules. We can only hope that he will succeed in his endeavour. Stiff resistance, to his efforts, is likely to come from within his own camp.
Now that the President has expressed his desire to have election campaigns scaled down, it is hoped that he will prevail upon his family members to set an example to others. This may be half the battle in achieving his objective.
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