Philippine President Gloria Arroyo says she has no desire to extend her term past next May. Mrs. Arroyo made the comments during her final state of the nation address before the Philippine Congress.
菲律宾总统阿罗约说，她不谋求延长明年5月届满的总统任期。阿罗约总统是在菲律宾国会发表最后一次国情咨文之前作出这番表示的。
In much of her speech, President Arroyo, an economist, boasted of the Philippines' economic resilience in the global downturn.
阿罗约总统是一位经济学者。她在大部分讲话中大谈菲律宾经济在全球经济下滑中的恢复能力。
"The story of the Philippines in 2008 is that the country weathered a succession of global crises, in fuel, in food, then in finance and the economy in a global recession, never losing focus and with economic fundamentals intact," said Mrs. Arroyo. "The state of our nation is a strong economy."
阿罗约说：“菲律宾在2008年的故事是历经困难而成功的故事，在全球出现危机情况下，先是燃料、食物，然后是金融和经济以及全球经济衰退，菲律宾从未失去重点并保持经济基本面不变。我们的国家状况是经济强盛。”
But it was not Mrs. Arroyo's achievements that brought the crowds out on a rainy Monday afternoon. Security was tight as thousands of people protested in Manila against proposed constitutional changes that, they say, would allow the president to extend her term.
但并非阿罗约所取得的成就在星期一下午吸引了观众冒雨出来。警方高度戒备，与此同时，成千上万的人在马尼拉举行抗议活动，反对提议中的修改宪法，抗议者说修宪将允许延长总统任期。
The House of Representatives passed a bill last month that authorizes Congress to amend the Constitution. Her allies want to change the system of government from presidential to parliamentary.
众议院上个月通过的一项法案，授权国会修改宪法。阿罗约的盟友要求改变政府制度从总统制改为议会制。
Mrs. Arroyo denied the rumors that she wants to remain in office, and lambasted her critics for creating "self-imagined threats" to democracy.
阿罗约否认了有关她谋求连任的传闻，并抨击她的批评者试图对民主制造“自我想象的威胁”。
"I have never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term," she said. "Many of those who accuse me of it try to cling like nails to their posts."
阿罗约说：“我从来没有表示希望在我的任期届满之后谋求延长。许多人指责我试图像钉子一样钉在岗位上。”
Half of the country's 22 senators boycotted her speech in protest to the proposed constitutional changes.
全国22个参议员中有一半抵制她的讲话，以抗议拟议中的修改宪法。
The Philippines is scheduled to hold a presidential election in May 2010. Mrs. Arroyo is constitutionally barred from seeking another term.
菲律宾将于2010年5月举行总统选举。宪法规定阿罗约不得再次寻求连任。
Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001 after street protests led to the collapse of the government of President Joseph Estrada, who was later convicted of plunder. Her election as president in 2004 by a narrow margin was marred by fraud allegations.
阿罗约是2001年1月就任总统的。在此之前，街头抗议活动导致总统约瑟夫.埃斯特拉达的政府崩溃，后来他被判定犯有掠夺罪。阿罗约于2004年当选总统，她的微弱优势被选举舞弊的指控所玷污。
In eight years, she battled impeachment attempts and attempts of a military takeover. She has denied allegations of corruption and electoral fraud. But in a recent survey, the president had the lowest approval rating among top government officials in the Philippines.
八年来，她挫败了弹劾她以及军事接管的企图。她否认涉及贪污和选举舞弊的指控。但最新的一项民调显示，她作为总统的支持率在菲律宾的高级政府官员中最低。 |