经济学人:意大利政治 社工贝卢斯科尼

 　　Italian politics

　　意大利政治

　　Silvio Berlusconi, social worker

　　社工贝卢斯科尼

　　Embarrassments¹ pile up but the former prime minister still has political clout²

　　纵使意大利政坛窘境重重，前总理依旧虎死余威在

　　NOT good: but far from the worst outcome. On April 15th a Milan court ruled that Silvio Berlusconi should serve his sentence for tax fraud by helping³ in an old people's home in Milan. But the former prime minister will be free to go to Rome from Tuesday to Thursday. In practice, the 77-year-old is unlikely to spend more than half a day a week pretending to help grannies, and then only for nine months.

　　结果不怎么好，但也还不是最糟糕。4月15日米兰法院判决：西尔维奥·贝卢斯科尼需要在养老院做社工，来为其税务欺诈罪行买单。但是这位意大利前总理依旧可以在周二到周四自由前往罗马。实际上，77岁的贝卢斯科尼不太可能每周花上超过半天时间假装为老人们服务，进而将刑期缩短到仅仅九个月。

　　贝卢斯科尼.jpg

　　As often happens in Italy, a daunting⁴ punishment has been whittled⁵ down to a mild reproof⁶. Mr Berlusconi's four-year sentence was cut to one year because of an amnesty law from a centre-left government in 2006. He could not be jailed thanks to another law passed by one of his governments that bans the imprisonment⁷ of most over-70s. Since the court had ruled out house arrest, there is nothing to stop him leading his Forza Italia! party into next month's European elections. The message that Mr Berlusconi was not just any criminal, but the leader of Italy's main conservative party, was neatly⁸ conveyed to the judges when he spent some hours with the prime minister, Matteo Renzi, discussing a constitutional reform that requires his party's parliamentary support.

　　正如意大利的一贯作风，一项骇人的刑罚会逐渐缩水，最后变成温和的责备。贝卢斯科尼四年监禁的判决因2006年中左翼政府的大赦法被缩短至一年。他最终能够逃脱牢狱之灾还要感谢他在任期间曾通过的另一项法律，该法律禁止监禁70岁以上的老人。再加上意大利法院决定不将其软禁，所以已经没有什么能都阻止贝卢斯科尼继续领导他的意大利力量党角逐下个月的欧洲选举。在现任总理马泰奥·伦齐（Matteo Renzi）与法官数小时的会面中，贝卢斯科尼除了是个罪犯，更是意大利主要保守党领导人的消息被巧妙地传递到了这位法官耳朵里。在会面中，他们提到意大利的宪法改革需要力量党的议会支持。

　　Despite this clout, three recent events have left the media tycoon⁹ and his party beleaguered¹⁰. On April 10th a judge sequestered¹¹ 49m ($68m) of assets said to belong to Roberto Formigoni, who was for 18 years governor of Lombardy and for all but three a leading member of Mr Berlusconi's party. Mr Formigoni, who has joined Angelino Alfano's breakaway New Centre Right (NCD) party, is to go on trial next month charged with corruption¹² and conspiracy¹³. He denies wrongdoing.

　　尽管有如此影响力，最近发生的三件事让这位媒体大亨和他的政党都陷入了困境。4月10日一位法官没收了据说属于在任18年的伦巴第（Lombardy）大区主席——罗伯托·福尔米戈尼（Roberto Formigoni）价值四千九百万欧元（合六千八百万美金）的财产。 而福尔米戈尼已经加入了由安杰利诺·阿尔法诺（joined Angelino）带领的、从力量党脱离出的新中右翼党（NCD）。他将在下个月因贪污罪和密谋罪的指控接受审判。他否认一切罪行。

　　Then on April 12th police in Lebanon arrested Marcello Dell'Utri, the man who created Forza Italia! from nothing in the early 1990s, giving Mr Berlusconi the vehicle he needed for his political career. Mr Dell'Utri, a Sicilian, remained close, despite controversy¹⁴ over his alleged¹⁵ links to Cosa Nostra. He disappeared shortly before the supreme¹⁶ court could rule on his seven-year jail sentence for aiding and abetting¹⁷ mobsters. Lower-court judges ruled that his collaboration¹⁸ with the Mafia ceased before he founded Forza Italia! But his legal problems and fugitive¹⁹ status are embarrassing for the party and its leader.

　　此外，4月12日黎巴嫩警方逮捕了二十世纪九十年代意大利力量党的最初的创始人马塞洛·德尔乌特里（Marcello Dell'Utri），他为贝卢斯科尼提供了其开创政治事业所需的工具。尽管对于他所声称的与黑手党的关系存在着争议，但西西里人德尔乌特里一直保持着与科萨·诺斯特拉（Cosa Nostra）密切的联系。在最高法院判决他帮助和教唆黑手党之罪入狱七年之前，他失踪了一小段时间。低级法院则判定他早在建立力量党之前就已经断绝了与黑手党的合作往来。但是他的法律问题和逃犯的身份让意大利力量党和党领袖贝卢斯科尼都非常尴尬。

　　Lastly, on April 13th, Mr Berlusconi's long-standing spokesman, Paolo Bonaiuti, confirmed he was leaving Forza Italia!, but not the centre-right—a hint that he will join the NCD. His decision to quit was evidence of tensions that have multiplied within Forza Italia! as the party has drifted without a clear direction in recent months.

　　还有，4月13日贝卢斯科尼长久以来的发言人保罗·博纳尤蒂（Paolo Bonaiuti）证实：他将离开意大利力量党，但并不不会离开中右翼党派。这也暗示了他将加入新中右翼党。他离开的决定又一次凸显了近几个月因没有明确地方向而动荡不定的意大利力量党不断升级的紧张局势。

　　The possibility that Mr Berlusconi might have been under house arrest drew renewed attention to his lack of a successor. Mr Alfano founded the NCD after Mr Berlusconi had handed him the leadership, only to snatch it back again. But whether Mr Alfano can build a credible²⁰ alternative to Forza Italia! remains²¹ to be seen; five months after its foundation, the NCD averages less than 5% in the polls.

　　贝卢斯科尼会被软禁的可能性让人们再一次关注谁会是他的继任者。贝卢斯科尼曾将党的领导权交给过阿尔法诺，也是在那之后阿尔法诺建立了新中右翼党。然而却不料贝卢斯科尼之后又夺回了领导权。但是阿尔法诺是否能够建立起一个可以信赖党派来代替力量党这还需要时间来检验。在其成立五个月之后，新中右翼党的各类民意调查中的平均支持率还不到5%。

　　Forza Italia!'s share has slumped²² from 29% at last year's election to 21%, below Beppe Grillo's maverick²³ Five Star Movement (M5S). Unless Mr Berlusconi can find a way to revive his party's fortunes, it is possible that the next confrontation²⁴ in Italian politics will not be between right and left, but between Mr Renzi's Democratic Party and an M5S that aspires²⁵ to replace not just all the mainstream²⁶ parties but parliamentary democracy itself.

　　力量党的支持率也由29%骤降至21%，低于由贝佩·格里洛（Beppe Grillo）领导的特立独行的五星运动党（M5S）。除非贝卢斯科尼能找到合适的方法来拯救他领导的力量党的命运，否则意大利政坛的下一次交锋将不会是在左与右之间，而会成为伦齐领导的意大利民主党与不仅想要取代所有意大利主流政党更企图代替民主党掌权议会的五星运动党之间的一次角逐。

　　1.sentence to 判处

　　例句:The court is expected to pass sentence later today.

　　预计法院今天晚些时候会宣布判决。

　　2.more than 超过；多于

　　例句:Their replies were no more than grunts²⁷ of acknowledgement.

　　他们所谓的回答不过是表示承认的咕哝罢了。

　　3.because of 因为；由于

　　例句:The man was known to the police because of previous convictions.

　　因为有犯罪前科，警察们都认识这个人。

　　4.thanks to 由于；多亏

　　例句:Thanks to that job I became an avid²⁸ reader.

　　多亏了那份工作我才成了一个喜欢阅读的人。

1 embarrassments   

n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事

参考例句：

• But there have been many embarrassments along the way. 但是一路走来已经是窘境不断。 来自互联网
• The embarrassments don't stop there. 让人难受的事情还没完。 来自互联网

2 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

5 whittled   

v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He whittled a simple toy from the piece of wood. 他把那块木头削成了一个简易的玩具。
• The government's majority has been whittled down to eight. 政府多数票减少到了八票。

6 reproof   

n.斥责，责备

参考例句：

• A smart reproof is better than smooth deceit.严厉的责难胜过温和的欺骗。
• He is impatient of reproof.他不能忍受指责。

7 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

8 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

9 tycoon   

n.有钱有势的企业家，大亨

参考例句：

• The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
• The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。

10 beleaguered   

adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰

参考例句：

• The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
• We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 sequestered   

adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押

参考例句：

• The jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months. 陪审团渴望被隔离至少两个月。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everything he owned was sequestered. 他的一切都被扣押了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

13 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

14 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

15 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

16 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

17 abetting   

v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的现在分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持

参考例句：

• On Earth, unknowingly abetting a criminal doesn't merit this kind of punishment. 在地球上，不知不觉地帮助罪犯并不构成这种惩罚。 来自电影对白
• "By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder." 援助和唆使谋杀的塔利班政权与杀人犯同罪。 来自互联网

18 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

19 fugitive   

adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者

参考例句：

• The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
• The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。

20 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

21 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

22 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

23 maverick   

adj.特立独行的；不遵守传统的；n.持异议者，自行其是者

参考例句：

• He's a maverick.He has his own way of thinking about things.他是个特异独行的人。对事情有自己的看法。
• You're a maverick and you'll try anything.你是个爱自行其是的人，样样事情都要尝试一下。

24 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

25 aspires   

v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The fame to which he aspires was beyond his reach. 他追求的名誉乃是他所不能及的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

27 grunts   

（猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈

参考例句：

• With grunts of anguish Ogilvie eased his bulk to a sitting position. 奥格尔维苦恼地哼着，伸个懒腰坐了起来。
• Linda fired twice A trio of Grunts assembling one mortar fell. 琳达击发两次。三个正在组装迫击炮的咕噜人倒下了。

28 avid   

adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的

参考例句：

• He is rich,but he is still avid of more money.他很富有,但他还想贪图更多的钱。
• She was avid for praise from her coach.那女孩渴望得到教练的称赞。