VOA慢速英语2016 委内瑞拉反对党掌控国会

AS IT IS 2016-01-08 Venezuelan Opposition¹ Takes Control of Assembly 委内瑞拉反对党掌控国会

Venezuela’s opposition party took control of the National Assembly Tuesday.

周二，委内瑞拉反对党控制了国会。

It was the first time in 16 years.

这还是16年来头一回。

The Democratic Unity² won a two-thirds vote in December’s election, but Socialist³ President Nicholas Maduro remains⁴ in office.

在12月的选举中，民主统一党赢得三分之二选票，然而社会党总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗依旧执政。

During Tuesday’s opening session,members of both the Democratic Unity and Socialist Party loyal to President Maduro shouted at each other.

周二的开幕会议期间，忠于马杜罗总统的社会党成员同民主党成员之间发生争议。

The two sides chanted slogans at one another.They also said the other was corrupt⁵ and disloyal, Reuters reported.

双方互喊口号。他们还互称对方政党腐败且不忠，路透社对此报道。

Socialist Party members walked out.

社会党成员愤然退出会议。

Maduro was elected in 2013 to replace the late Socialist President Hugo Chavez.Chavez led major changes in Venezuela’s economy with more government control over major industries.Maduro has continued the Chavez policies.

马杜罗总统于2013年选举获胜，取代已故总统乌戈·查韦斯就职。查韦斯总统领导了委内瑞拉重大的经济变革，政府越来越多的控制主要产业。马杜罗总统继续实行查韦斯总统的政策。

On Tuesday, veteran opposition legislator Harry⁶ Ramos was elected to lead the Assembly.

周二，富有经验的反对党议员哈里·拉莫斯被选举为国会领导人。

“What did we offer at our campaign?To recover the autonomy of the legislative⁷ branch,” Ramos said in his opening speech, according to Reuters.“This has been the loudspeaker of the presidential palace, the echo chamber⁸ of the executive branch.”

“我们在竞选中做出了什么提议？恢复立法机构的自主权，”据路透社报道，拉莫斯在开幕致辞中这样说。“这已经成为总统府的扬声器，行政部门的回音室。”

Ramos said there will be big changes.

拉莫斯说未来将有重大变化。

When a socialist deputy complained that Ramos violated legislative rules,Ramos responded: “Take it easy congressman⁹, things have changed here.”

社会党代表对此表示不满，认为拉莫斯违背了立法规定，拉莫斯回复称：“别紧张，国会议员，这里一切都已经改变了。”

There were other signs of a power switch in the assembly.A portrait of the late President Chavez that hung in the assembly chamber was removed.And reporters were able to walk freely on the floor of the assembly for the first time in years.

国会中还有一些其它的标志表明了当权的转换。悬挂在国会厅的已故总统查韦斯的肖像被换掉了。此外，记者多年来还是第一次能够自由地在国会大厅内行走。

It remains a big question how much the new assembly can fix the nation’s economy. The socialist government led by Maduro controls agencies that decide major economic policies.

新的国会能够在何种程度上修复国家的经济尚且存在很大疑问。马杜罗领导的社会主义政府控制着做出重大经济决策的机构。

Leaders of the new majority promise to deal with shortages of food, drugs and other things people need daily.But they have not offered specifics.

新的多数派领袖承诺会解决食物短缺问题、药品及人们日常所需的其它东西。然而他们还没有做出具体行动。

First on the agenda is legislation to free opposition activists¹⁰ jailed for protesting the Maduro government, Reuters reported.

路透社报道称，议程第一步就是要释放因反对马杜罗政府而受到监禁的反对派激进分子。

The Democratic Unity coalition¹¹ also wants to grant property titles for citizens who received homes from the government.Party members said it will ease residents’ concerns they could lose their homes at any time.

民主党联盟也想为从政府那里得到房屋援助的市民准予房产证明。党内成员认为，此举将缓解居民的忧虑，让他们不再担心会随时失去家园。

In the December elections, the opposition coalition won 112 seats.That represents a two-thirds majority – enough to put legislation blocked by Maduro to a referendum.It is also enough to draft a new constitution.

在12月的选举中，反对派联盟共赢得112个席位。这意味着三分之二的多数派能够对受到马杜罗阻止的法律进行全民公投。同时也能够起草一项新的宪法。

But the Venezuelan Supreme¹² Court in December blocked three opposition members from taking their seats, according to news reports. The court ruled that election fraud charges must be investigated.The Democratic Unity Coalition said the December ruling amounted to a “judicial coup¹³.”

然而，据新闻报道，委内瑞拉最高法院在12月阻止三名反对派成员获得席位。法院规定，对选举舞弊的指控需进行调查。民主党联盟称，12月的统治是一次“司法政变。”

For now, the coalition lacks a two-thirds majority.

从现在起，民主党联盟失去了三分之二多数派的支持。

Words in This Story

chant – v. to say a word or phrase) many times in a rhythmic¹⁴ way usually loudly and with other people

slogan – n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used to attract attention

disloyal – adj. failing to support or be true to someone or something

veteran – adj. someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity

loudspeaker – n. a device that is used to make sound such as a person’s voice louder

echo – adj. the same position as someone elseb

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

4 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。

5 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

7 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

8 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

9 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 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。

12 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。

13 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

14 rhythmic   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
• Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。