VOA常速英语2020--马杜罗统治下不可能举行自由公平的选举（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

以下是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。

The illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro has scheduled National Assembly elections for December 6th. But there is no point in holding such a vote, because as U.S. Special Representative Elliot Abrams noted in a recent briefing, “none of the basic conditions for free elections exist in Venezuela.” “Opposition parties have been stolen and regime agents appointed to run them; the national elections commission is completely under regime control; freedom of the press does not exist; repression and intimidation by the police and colectivo gangs continues,” noted Mr. Abrams. Indeed, there aren’t even reliable and tested voting machines in Venezuela. Moreover, the rules were recently changed by the Maduro regime, which created over 100 new National Assembly seats and changed voting district lines. For these reasons, Interim President Juan Guaido and a coalition of 37 parties have said they would not legitimize such fraud by participating in the election.

尼古拉斯·马杜罗非法政权计划12月6日举行国民议会选举。但举行这样的选举毫无意义，因为正如美国负责委内瑞拉事务的特别代表艾里奥特·艾布拉姆斯最近介绍情况时指出，“委内瑞拉不存在举行自由选举的任何基本条件”。“反对党遭到剽窃，政权特工人员被任命来管理他们；全国选举委员会完全受政权控制；新闻自由不存在；警察和集体帮派组织的压迫和恐吓仍在继续。”艾布拉姆斯表示。事实上，委内瑞拉甚至都没有可靠和经过检验的投票机器。此外，马杜罗政权近期改变了规则，将国民议会席位增加了一百多席，而且改变了选区分界。出于这些原因，临时总统胡安·瓜伊多和由37个政党组成的联盟表示，他们不会参加这次选举，让此类舞弊行为合法化。

The United States has supported the diverse and broad array of democratic actors fighting for liberty and democracy in Venezuela. Special Representative Abrams cautioned those who have decided to participate in the National Assembly elections, saying, “you have a special obligation to demand the necessary, internationally accepted conditions for free and fair elections, and to speak openly about the repression and corruption of the Maduro regime.” The United States is able to distinguish between democratic actors who differ on strategy and people who work with the regime to undermine democracy, said Mr. Abrams. “We will not hesitate to apply the full force of U.S. sanctions to the latter group, as we have been doing in the last few years. To all Venezuelans who struggle for free elections and a restoration of democracy, we continue to pledge our full support.”

美国支持委内瑞拉各界具有广泛代表性的民主行动人士争取自由和民主的斗争。特别代表艾布拉姆斯告诫那些已经决定参加国民议会选举的人说，“你们有特别的义务要求拥有举行自由公平选举所必须的和国际社会公认的条件，公开揭露马杜罗政权的压迫和腐败行径。”艾布拉姆斯说，美国能够区分存在策略分歧的民主行动人士和与政权合作破坏民主的人之间的区别。“我们将毫不犹豫地向后者施加美国的全面制裁，就像过去几年我们一直做的那样。我们将继续保证全力支持为实现自由选举和恢复民主而奋斗的所有委内瑞拉人民。”

That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

这是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。