2006年VOA标准英语-Mauritanians Vote in Landmark Second Round Legi

By Jordan Davis
Dakar
03 December 2006

Islamist Moderate Party supporters attend a late meeting, 17 Nov 2006 in Nouakchott

Second round legislative¹ elections are under way in Mauritania. The vote is seen as a key step in the country's return to civilian² rule. Observers say the entire process has been fair and transparent³. Jordan Davis files this VOA report from our regional bureau in Dakar.

Second round races were mostly concentrated in rural areas of Mauritania for about half of the country's 95 parliamentary seats. The rest of the seats were decided⁴ in first round elections two weeks ago.

European Union observers say voting on Sunday proceeded without significant problems.

 

Independent Journalist Racine Sy says a significant number of women are expected to join the country's parliament because of a quota⁵ system.

"The women have a quota of 20 percent," said Sy. "But they have gone more than that 20 percent, because they got nine places in the first round, and there is the possibility of them getting more places in the second round."

The elections were organized by the ruling military junta⁶ that overthrew⁷ former Mauritanian President Maaouiya Ould Taya over a year ago. The current rulers said they would not run for office.

In the first round of elections two weeks ago, the coalition⁸ opposed to the former Taya regime grabbed a majority of the 46 seats that were decided.

Turnout then topped 70 percent.

Mauritanians will vote in Senate races in January. New presidential elections are scheduled for March.

1 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。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

6 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

7 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

8 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。