Spain's Rajoy: Economic Situation One of 'Extreme Difficulty'

 　　Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says that his nation's economic plight¹ is one of "extreme difficulty" and that the country may need an international bailout.

　　The Spanish leader told a meeting of his People's Party on Wednesday that those who do not understand the severity of the country's problems are "fooling themselves."  He has suggested that Spain might need a financial rescue package, following European bailouts already handed to Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

　　Rajoy defended the austerity measures his government has imposed in an effort to cut the government's deficit² spending.  But the country's borrowing costs have risen since he last month unilaterally eased the government's deficit target for 2012, in defiance³ of a European Union mandate⁴.

　　Investors⁵ showed weak interest in Spanish debt Wednesday. The government sold $3.4 billion in bonds - just above the minimum it sought to sell.  But the interest rate on the notes increased over the last time Spain sold bonds in September.

　　Nearly a quarter of the Spanish workforce⁶ is unemployed⁷, the highest in the 17-nation euro currency bloc⁸. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said the government realizes investors are wary⁹ about the state of the Spanish economy.

　　"The government is absolutely aware of the environment, that there is an atmosphere of nervousness, that in addition it is made worse by the perception of a slow-down in Europe," he said.  "The main source of nerves is the idea, which is more extensive every time, that we will have a recession in Europe this year and that it doesn't only affect the countries in the south.  The indicators¹⁰ also show the countries in the north are starting to be affected¹¹.''

　　But de Guindos said Spain is committed to its austerity reforms and boosting the country's economic fortunes.

　　"The criticism that measures haven't been taken quickly is sincerely far from the truth. More can always be done," he said.  "More can always be done and there the government is absolutely aware that it's very important to continue with its reformist agenda, that it be broad and that it increase the Spanish economy's growth potential.''

1 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

7 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

8 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

9 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

10 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。