2006年VOA标准英语-Madagascar Holds Largely Peaceful Presidential

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
03 December 2006

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Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana casts his ballot in Antananarivo, 3 Dec 2006

In Madagascar Sunday, voters were choosing a president in what observers say was a mostly peaceful process. Many analysts² say President Marc Ravalomanana is expected to win re-election, although a run-off election is possible, if he fails to win at least 50 percent of the vote. VOA Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa bureau in Johannesburg.

Voter turnout was light early Sunday, but increased in the afternoon, as many of Madagascar's six million registered voters cast ballots³ for their next president.

The head of the National Democratic Institute monitoring group, Kelley Jones, said the government had made considerable efforts to ensure a free and fair vote.

"The administration has taken a lot of new measures to ensure the credibility of this election, and ensure the appropriate preparedness for the election," said Jones.

She said, nevertheless, election officials faced major challenges, due to a lack of communications and poor roads in some parts of the country. Results are expected in several weeks.

Election workers said ballots for several opposition⁴ candidates failed to reach some voting stations. Under Madagascar's law, candidates were required to print and deliver their own ballots.

President Marc Ravalomanana is seeking a second five-year term against 13 contenders. The wealthy businessman, who began his career as a milk vendor⁵, staged a well-organized campaign, based on his economic record.

However, his opponents countered that he had failed to make significant progress toward easing poverty in a country where three-fourths of the population lives on less than $1 per day.

During the campaign, some opposition candidates complained of a lack of transparency in voter registration⁶ lists, and several opposition groups boycotted⁷ the election, saying it was held two months early, which violated the constitution.

In addition, last month, a retired⁸ general called the vote unconstitutional, and called for an interim⁹ military government to take power. Authorities are searching for him and several officers.

The government also refused to allow an exiled opposition leader, Pierre Rajaonarivelo, to return home to compete in the polling, saying he was wanted for fraud and would be arrested.

The presidential election five years ago resulted in a seven-month-long crisis that was marked by sporadic¹⁰ violence.

Mr. Ravalomanana and then-President Didier Ratsiraka both claimed victory. The standoff ended when Ratsiraka went into exile in France.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

6 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

10 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。