英闻天下——78 Italy's Berlusconi Not to Run for PM

 　　Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's party and its former main ally, the Northern League, have resumed their alliance.

 

　　Berlusconi will not run for the top office again in the upcoming elections.

 

　　He said it was still not clear whom the centre-right coalition¹ would back to run as Prime Minister.

 

　　"If they think that I would be useful for the government, the position that would let my best express all my experience would be the position of Minister of Finance. That would allow me to show once again, that I have no political ambition, and I don't think of politics as something that gives me advantages."

 

　　Berlusconi's last government ended in November 2011 under pressure from financial markets, which expressed a lack of confidence in his ability to reform Italy's economy.

 

　　Opinion polls have shown that Berlusconi's conservative party gaining since he pulled its support for Prime Minister Mario Monti's government last month.

 

　　The national election is scheduled to be held late next month, shaping up into a race among Monti, Berlusconi and Democratic Party leader Pier² Luigi Bersani.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。