VOA常速英语2007年-Russia's Putin Urged to Assume Premier Post

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
11 December 2007

Russian presidential nominee¹ Dmitri Medvedev and protege of President Vladimir Putin is calling for the incumbent² to become prime minister. VOA Moscow correspondent Peter Fedynsky has details.

Just 24 hours after President Putin voiced support for Dmitri Medvedev as his successor, the Kremlin leader's protégé returned the favor, calling on Mr. Putin to agree in principle to become prime minister following the election of a new president.

In a nationally televised address, Medvedev praised Mr. Putin for improving Russia's economy, defense³ posture⁴, and global respect. But he noted⁵ that decades are needed to improve the country's standard of living, international position, and quality of rural life. Medvedev says achieving these goals requires continuity.

He says it is not enough to elect a president who shares his predecessor's ideology⁶. He says it is important to maintain the team formed by the current president. He says for this reason Vladimir Putin must become prime minister.

Medvedev began working under Vladimir Putin in the early 1990s in the Saint Petersburg municipal government. Medvedev has served the president in various capacities in Moscow, including chief of staff, head of the Gazprom Russian state energy monopoly, and, currently, as first deputy prime minister.

With Kremlin support and no serious competitor, Medvedev is virtually assured of becoming Russia's next president. His call for a Putin premiership appears to answer the question of what the president will do after he leaves office.

What is not clear is how both men will share power. Currently, the Russian president has more power than the prime minister, but Medvedev in his speech indicated the prime minister is Russia's top executive.

Political columnist⁷ Alexander Minkin of the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper says Mr. Putin will most likely take the power with him, because he enjoys the support of the country's ruling elite⁸. In remarks to the VOA, Minkin drew a parallel with a movie in which the popular Russian actor Vladimir Vysotsky plays a subordinate military officer.

Minkin says it doesn't matter what Vysotsky's rank was. He had the lead role and that's that.

Traditionally, Russia has always had a rigid⁹ power structure. Before the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the czar was the only source of power. Under the Communists, the presidency¹⁰ was subordinated to the secretary-general of the Communist Party, who occasionally held both positions. Post-Soviet Russia has had only two presidents, Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, and both were the unquestioned leaders of the country.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

7 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。

8 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

9 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。