2007年VOA标准英语-Lebanon's Parliament Puts Off Presidential Elec

By Edward Yeranian
Beirut
25 September 2007

Lebanon's parliament has failed to attain¹ the required two-thirds quorum² to elect the country's next president, forcing a postponement³ of the electoral session to October 23.  Edward Yeranian reports for the VOA from Beirut.

Draconian⁴ security measures closed down much of downtown Beirut Tuesday as Lebanese security forces and the army attempted to protect members of parliament on their way to and from the scheduled session of parliament.

It became quickly apparent that a two-thirds quorum needed to hold the election would not be reached, and a spokesman for Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced a new session would be held on October 23.

Member of parliament Hussein Hajj Hassan, representing the pro-Syrian Hezbollah, showed up to say his group was boycotting⁵ the session because no consensus⁶ had been reached on a candidate acceptable to the opposition⁷ and the pro-Western government coalition⁸.

Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, representing the ruling coalition, told reporters that his parliamentary block had come to elect a president to, in his words, "spare Lebanon the danger of a constitutional void," if no president is elected.

The term of outgoing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud does not officially end until November 23, leaving legislators two months to reach a compromise.

Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri, who is pro-Syrian, said he is optimistic and the atmosphere is positive after a meeting with Sa'ad Hariri, leader of the government's parliamentary coalition. 

Ali Hamdan, a spokesman for Berri's Amal Movement, blamed the ruling majority for the postponement, saying it was guilty of procrastination⁹.

"The time that the majority took, and they waited to reply to the initiative of the speaker," he said.  "We waited too much time and that's why we couldn't get a solution before this and why we don't see a full quorum to hold the session."

Edmond Sa'ab, executive editor of Beirut's An Nahar newspaper says that despite the failed session, things are evolving in the right direction.

"I'm optimistic, because I met the speaker of the parliament on Wednesday; he's very optimistic after seeing the Maronite Patriarch; he will have an idea about the qualifications of the new president since the Patriarch is the principal voter in this election," he explained.

Lebanon's president is chosen from its largest Christian¹⁰ community, the Maronites.  The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal¹¹ Nasrallah Butros Sfeir traditionally plays a major role in political decision-making for the group.

Sa'ab says the Maronite Patriarch and Parliament Speaker Berri will work things out, and an election will take place if two problems are overcome.

"I'm sure on two conditions: that the Americans and the Syrians will sit aside and let the Lebanese decide what President we'll be having, because these are two obstacles now that the speaker of parliament is facing," Sa'ab said.

The U.S. supports the ruling anti-Syrian coalition, which is opposed by Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian politicians.

Several anti-Syrian Christian candidates are running for the presidency¹² against Christian leader Michel Aoun, who is backed by the pro-Syrian opposition.

Many Lebanese pundits¹³ are suggesting that the bad state of relations between the US and Syria, key players in Lebanon, are behind the apparent breakdown¹⁴ in the electoral process.

1 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

2 quorum   

n.法定人数

参考例句：

• The meeting is adjourned since there is no quorum.因为没有法定人数会议休会。
• Three members shall constitute a quorum.三名成员可组成法定人数。

3 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

4 draconian   

adj.严苛的；苛刻的；严酷的；龙一样的

参考例句：

• You can't expect the people to obey such draconian regulations.你不能指望人民服从如此严苛的规定。
• The city needs a draconian way of dealing with robbers.这个城市需要一个严苛的办法来对付强盗。

5 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 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。

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。

9 procrastination   

n.拖延，耽搁

参考例句：

• Procrastination is the father of failure. 因循是失败的根源。
• Procrastination is the thief of time. 拖延就是浪费时间。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

12 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。

13 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

14 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。