2007年VOA标准英语-Romanians Vote Against Removal of President

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
20 May 2007

Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu waves to supporters in University Sq, downtown Bucharest, 19 May 2007

Romanians have voted against the dismissal of their president, Traian Basescu, on charges of abuse of power. Official results show that about 75 percent of those participating in Saturday's referendum backed Mr. Basescu, who has pledged to stamp out corruption¹ among politicians and other high-ranking officials. Stefan Bos reports for VOA from Budapest.

 

A crowd of supporters cheered as it became clear that three-fourths of the Romanians participating in the referendum voted against removing President Traian Basescu.

Parliament suspended the 55-year-old former oil-tanker captain from his presidential duties in April on charges he violated the constitution by abusing his power. Mr. Basescu allegedly ordered the secret services to spy on opposition³ politicians as part of his efforts to stamp out corruption.

Among his loudest critics was former President Ion Illiescu, an ex-communist who was investigated for his controversial role in calling in miners to crush a demonstration⁴ against his rule in 1990. The confrontation⁵ killed at least six people.

Speaking to supporters in Bucharest, Mr. Basescu, who won the presidency⁶ in 2004, said the outcome of Saturday's referendum showed that most people support his efforts to free his country from corrupt² officials.

"I draw a single conclusion from this vote," he says, "and that is that Romanians want to change the political class." Mr. Basescu adds that Saturday's vote was "a referendum of trust" and shows that "most Romanians" support his attempts "to stamp out corruption" and that "Romanians want justice." Mr. Basescu says he wants to hit out at those who got rich at the fall of communism and allegedly frustrated⁷ his anti-corruption drive.

Mr. Basescu also told his enthusiastic supporters that he seeks "a new constitution" clarifying the balance of power between institutions, to reform the electoral system, and to clean up the administration. In addition the president pledged to fight for "a healthy education system" that gives opportunities to everyone.

But political opponents, such as Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, expressed doubts that many people support Mr. Basescu's initiatives because only about half of Romania's roughly 18 million voters participated in the referendum.

He says he believes the low voter turnout is very significant. It shows that the priorities of the Romanian people are very different to those of Basescu. And he adds, from tomorrow we must all concentrate on one thing, and that is on what the Romanian people want. I assure you my government will do that. 

The outcome is seen as welcome news for Washington and the European Union.

Mr. Basescu is a staunch U.S. ally who Western diplomats⁸ have credited with helping⁹ implement¹⁰ reforms that were crucial for Romania to join the European Union on January 1, this year.

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

2 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。

3 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。

4 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

5 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

6 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。

7 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。