VOA标准英语2010年-Ukrainian Voters Apparently Unhappy wi

Activists¹ of the Women's Movement "FEMEN," dressed as prostitutes, take part in a rally outside the Central Election Commission office in Kiev, Ukraine, 14 Jan 2010. The event was meant to highlight what the group called political prostitution and crude populism in the election campaign. The posters with the logos of the leading candidates and signature "Choose me" in Ukraine's presidential race are seen at top. The first round of voting in Ukraine's presidential election is scheduled for 17 January.

Ukraine holds a presidential election Sunday, but there appears to be widespread dissatisfaction among voters with incumbent² President Viktor Yushchenko and his two main rivals, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych.

Many Ukrainians say they have suffered because of a feud³ between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that has undermined government policies. 

Support for Mr. Yushchenko is said to be under five percent.  Ms. Tymoshenko defends her record as prime minister, saying she prevented a bad economy from becoming worse.  And former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, disgraced by a Supreme⁴ Court ruling that his 2004 presidential election bid was riddled⁵ with fraud, has returned from political oblivion. 

Voters suspect all three of corruption⁷, and despite low approval ratings, all have secured the nomination⁸ of their respective parties.  

Vitaliy Bala, who directs a political consulting group in Kyiv, says Ukraine still has a Soviet-style political system based on personality.  The system, he adds, rewards supporters and the status quo, rather than ideas.

Bala says only a team of stars can lift Ukraine out of its current crisis.  A single star will not do it, but no star wants to be surrounded by other stars and share the glory of fame and power.

Bala adds that the system surrounds politicians with aids that agree with anything the leader says. This, he says, creates a gap between politicians and the people.

Bala says those who come out of nothing to become a big boss immediately try to create a vacuum around themselves to avoid contact with the people they came from.

Many Ukrainians say they are voting against, rather than for, certain candidates.  Several workers in the top three campaigns say they do not support their own candidates, but they fear a vote for an alternative would be wasted.

Despite a field of nearly 20 challengers, surveys indicate none poses a serious threat to the established candidates.

Olexiy Haran, a political science professor at Kyiv Mohyla Academy, tells VOA that Ukrainian politicians have not matured as quickly as the voters.

Haran says there are efforts in Ukraine to create a Western style of political activity that is transparent⁹.  He says voters need a clear understanding of who is on a ballot¹⁰ and that the candidate is not involved in any corrupt⁶ schemes.

Haran adds that newcomers should have done these things but have not.  So Ukrainians need to choose from among the old politicians.

Voters disgusted with the favorites or uncertain about newcomers could support the protest candidacy of Vasyl Humeniuk. He changed his name to Vasyl Protyvsikh, which translates as "Vasyl Against All," or "None of the Above."  Valentin, from western Ukraine, supports him.

Valentin says there is no worthy¹¹ candidate in Ukraine who can listen to the people and who was raised in simple circumstances.  He notes that Protyvsikh is from western Ukraine, where he got experience in agriculture.  Valentin says Protyvsikh can do something about it.

Opinion polls indicate no candidate is likely to garner¹² the 50 percent vote threshold needed to win Sunday's election outright¹³.  The top two vote-getters, presumably Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanukovych, will face off in a second round on February 7.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 feud   

n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇

参考例句：

• How did he start his feud with his neighbor?他是怎样和邻居开始争吵起来的？
• The two tribes were long at feud with each other.这两个部族长期不和。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 riddled   

adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式)

参考例句：

• The beams are riddled with woodworm. 这些木梁被蛀虫蛀得都是洞。
• The bodies of the hostages were found riddled with bullets. 在人质的尸体上发现了很多弹孔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 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。

8 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

9 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

10 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。

11 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

12 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

13 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。