VOA标准英语2012--Senegal's President Begins Bid for Controversial Third Term

Senegal's President Begins Bid for Controversial Third Term

Eight opposition¹ candidates opened their campaigns ahead of Senegal's first-round presidential vote under a single banner and a single agenda.
"Respect for the constitution at the start of this campaign necessitates² the repeal³ of the candidacy of President Abdoulaye Wade⁴," said presidential candidate Macky Sall.
The recent rally at Obelisk⁵ Square in Dakar marked a drastic shift from earlier gatherings⁶ there.
Violent protests broke out in Dakar and elsewhere after the constitutional council gave Wade the green light to seek a third term, despite a limit of two he enacted⁷ during his first term. After his re-election in 2007, Wade said he would respect the limit.
"I blocked the number of terms, so it is not possible. I tell you sincerely that I cannot run for a third term," he said.
Now he is pressing ahead and the opposition is pushing back. Leading the way is the June 23rd Movement, or M23, that takes its name from the day tens of thousands took to the streets in protest when Wade proposed a constitutional referendum that would have enabled him to win the presidential election with just 25 percent of the vote.
The president dropped the idea in the wake of massive protests. But his spokesman says few Senegalese actually oppose Wade seeking a third term.
"The Senegalese are not in the streets. The day that the Senegalese are in the streets, no power can resist them," said presidential spokesman Serigne Mbacke Ndiaye.
Recent protests in Dakar have drawn⁸ about 10,000 people, in a metropolitan⁹ area of nearly 3 million. Political analyst¹⁰ Abdoul Lo says there is not the same urgency there was on June 23.
"What happened on the 23rd of June was that Senegalese people were sure that there was no alternative. This time around, the constitutional court has made its decision, but people still have the feeling that there is an alternative, which is the vote on the 26th of February," said Lo.
The number candidates will splinter the opposition vote, but the coalition¹¹ alleviates¹² some voters' concerns.
"All of the candidates have their supporters and they will vote. But if there is a second round, the coalition will move to support whomever won the first round," said Awa Ka, a Macky Sall supporter.
However, Lo says that M23 and voters underestimate the stakes for Wade.
"No matter the result of the elections, he will do whatever necessary to stay in power because, for him, it's vital," said Lo.
President Wade says that he wants another term to finish his infrastructure¹³ projects. But Lo says that, during his 12 years in power, the 85-year-old president has made many enemies and murky¹⁴ deals that could mean trouble if he loses.

1 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。

2 necessitates   

使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The increase in population necessitates a greater food supply. 人口的增加需要更多食物供应。
• Your proposal necessitates borrowing money. 你的提议使借款成为必要。

3 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

4 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

5 obelisk   

n.方尖塔

参考例句：

• The obelisk was built in memory of those who died for their country.这座方尖塔是为了纪念那些为祖国献身的人而建造的。
• Far away on the last spur,there was a glittering obelisk.远处，在最后一个山峦上闪烁着一个方尖塔。

6 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

9 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 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。

12 alleviates   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Heat often alleviates pain. 热常常能减缓疼痛。
• A cold compress often alleviates pain. 冷敷常会减轻疼痛。

13 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

14 murky   

adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗

参考例句：

• She threw it into the river's murky depths.她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处。
• She had a decidedly murky past.她的历史背景令人捉摸不透。