れいわ・舩後氏が政界引退へ　「さらに６年は難しい」

　れいわ新選組の舩後靖彦副代表（６７）は１７日、国会内で記者会見し、夏の参院選に出馬せず、政界を引退すると表明した。難病の筋萎縮性側索硬化症（ＡＬＳ）を患う舩後氏は声を出して話せないため、事前に用意した文章をパソコンの自動音声機能を使って読み上げた。
　舩後氏は「（国会で）一部の強い男性しか活動できないのは健全とは思わない。だからこそ存在意義を感じ頑張ってきたが、年齢的にも体力的にもさらに６年間は難しいと考えた」と説明した。
　舩後氏は２０１９年参院選で初当選。これを受け、国会では介助者による代理投票が認められるなどバリアフリー化が進んだ。（2025/06/17-19:47）

House of Councillors lawmaker Yasuhiko Funago, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, held a press conference on Tuesday and announced his intention not to seek another term in this summer's Upper House election and to retire from politics.
   At the press conference in the Diet building, a statement prepared by Funago, 67, also deputy leader of the opposition Reiwa Shinsengumi party, was read using the automatic speech function of a personal computer, as he is unable to use his own voice.
   Funago explained that he has been working hard because he believes that it is not healthy that only some strong men can be active in the Diet. However, he added that it would be difficult for him to serve another six-year term, considering his age and physical strength.
   Funago was first elected to the Upper House in 2019. His election led to reforms aimed at boosting accessibility in the Diet, such as allowing proxy voting by assistants.