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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Chavez Health Drives Venezuela Toward Uncertain Future
In the days after winning a fourth presidential term of office in October, Hugo Chavez seemed healthy and full of life. But since his December 11 cancer operation in Cuba, he has not spoken or been seen in public.
Venezuela's Information Minister Ernesto Villegas issued a public statement on the president’s condition acknowledging that he has suffered complications caused by a lung infection but that his condition is stable.
"The treatment is being applied1 constantly and rigorously and the patient is assimilating it," Vilegas said.
The government’s plan to postpone2 the inauguration3 and designate Vice4 President Nicolas Maduro acting5 head of state in the interim6 has sparked a constitutional debate about the legality of such a move.
Citing the constitution, opposition7 leaders say if Chavez is unable to be inaugurated, then National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello should take over and new elections must be held within 30 days.
Michael Shifter an analyst8 with the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington says a short delay will not likely cause a major political uproar9. But he says if Chavez does not return soon, pressure will mount to hold new elections.
“I think there will be a lot of pressure for that. There probably is a limit, it’s very hard to be precise and [to know] what the limit is but I think if it goes on for a couple of months it’s going to be very, very difficult to sustain,” Shifter said.
Vice President Maduro says the constitution allows the Supreme10 Court to set a new inauguration date and has dismissed speculation11 that Chavez is no longer fit to continue as president. But Shifter says if Chavez is incapacitated or worse the opposition needs to press for new elections without seeming uncaring of the president’s condition.
“I think the opposition has to be careful also in dealing12 with the tremendous emotional factor for Chavez. It can’t seem to be heartless,” Shifter said.
That emotional factor is at the forefront of government broadcasts of scenes of Chavez during happier times, in a seeming effort to forestall13 political chaos14 if he does not return to public life.
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1
applied
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adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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2
postpone
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v.延期,推迟 | |
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3
inauguration
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n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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4
vice
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n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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5
acting
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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6
interim
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adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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7
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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8
analyst
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n.分析家,化验员;心理分析学家 | |
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9
uproar
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n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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10
supreme
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adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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11
speculation
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n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机 | |
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12
dealing
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n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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13
forestall
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vt.抢在…之前采取行动;预先阻止 | |
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14
chaos
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n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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