2006年VOA标准英语-Losing Mexican Presidential Candidate Draws Hug

By Greg Flakus
Mexico City
09 July 2006

Mexican protesters in Zocalo Plaza¹, July 8, 2008   
  
The man who ran a tight second place in the official count from last Sunday's presidential election in Mexico drew more than 100,000 people to Mexico City's main plaza, known as the Zocalo, Saturday to protest what he claims was a fraudulent process. Leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asked his supporters to refrain from acts of violence while he pursues legal channels to contest the election results.

---------

They came by the tens of thousands, cramming² the narrow streets of Mexico City's old central district, waving flags and banners and chanting their disapproval³ of the official vote result that gave the victory to ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon.

Many carried signs condemning⁴ Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute for having, in the view of the protesters, conspired⁵ with the ruling party to steal the election from Lopez Obrador. International observers called the July second voting process exemplary and representatives of every party were on hand at every voting station in the country to observe the process, which was mostly carried out by volunteers.

 
Demonstrators on truck in Zocalo,Mexico City, July 8, 2006
  
Still, in his address the crowded Zocalo, Lopez Obrador said he and the millions who support him were victims of a massive fraud.

He said, we are sure that, in spite of all the anti-democratic practices, we triumphed on the second of July.

He called on his supporters not to block roads or engage in violent acts that might hurt the cause. He said he would present proof of his accusations⁶ to the Federal Electoral Tribunal on Sunday. The tribunal is the body established by law for all such complaints and is also the body that is designated to officially pronounce the winner of the presidential race on September sixth. All complaints brought before the tribunal must be resolved by the end of August.

Lopez Obrador said his assertion that he won the election would be proved by a complete review of the vote.

He called for a recount, vote-by-vote and voting booth-by-voting booth.

A communist flag in Mexico City protests, July 8, 2006  
  
The former mayor of Mexico City did not provide any hard evidence of fraud, but he told reporters earlier in the day that he would do that once he had formally presented his complaint to the election tribunal. 

Meanwhile, the candidate who won by less than sixth-tenths of a percent, according to the final vote count, Felipe Calderon of the National Action Party, is proceeding⁷ as if he were already president elect. He says he will begin forming his transition team Monday. He also received calls of congratulations over the past couple of days from Mexico's current president, Vicente Fox, from President Bush and from the Prime Ministers of Spain and Canada.

Calderon has called for a government of unity⁸ and has reached out to other parties, including those that backed Lopez Obrador, offering to name members of those parties to his cabinet. But Lopez Obrador and his supporters are having none of it, at least for now, and even if the vote challenge fails, Calderon faces a difficult job ahead trying to rule a divided nation where many citizens are likely to remain angry and distrustful for a long time to come.

1 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

2 cramming   

n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课

参考例句：

• Being hungry for the whole morning, I couldn't help cramming myself. 我饿了一上午，禁不住狼吞虎咽了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She's cramming for her history exam. 她考历史之前临时抱佛脚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

4 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 conspired   

密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致

参考例句：

• They conspired to bring about the meeting of the two people. 他们共同促成了两人的会面。
• Bad weather and car trouble conspired to ruin our vacation. 恶劣的气候连同汽车故障断送了我们的假日。

6 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

7 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

8 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。