2006年VOA标准英语-Calderon Takes Presidential Oath of Office Befo

By Greg Flakus
Mexico City
01 December 2006

In spite of threats by leftist lawmakers, Felipe Calderon went before the Mexican Congress Friday to take the formal presidential oath of office as required by the constitution.  As VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Mexico City, the action of the new president carries symbolic¹ importance beyond the legal formalities.

 
Lawmakers scuffle as one uses a chair to try to block an access at the National Congress, 1 Dec 2006

In the hours before the scheduled oath of office ceremony, the lower house of the Mexican Congress was the scene of fist fights and shoving matches between members of the ruling National Action Party (PAN) and members of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) who had announced their intention to block the entrance of the new president.

Some political figures had raised the possibility of moving the ceremony to some other location to avoid conflict, but political analysts² agreed that this would have been a sign of weakness on the part of the new leader that could have been exploited by his opponents.

Calderon and outgoing President Vicente Fox arrived at the podium in the House of Deputies at the appointed hour, and Calderon recited the oath.

 
Mexican President Felipe Calderon touches his heart after being sworn in at the National Congress during his inauguration³ ceremony
Immediately after the oath, President Fox passed the red, white and green presidential sash to Mr. Calderon.  There was a mixture of applause and boos from the Congress, but, in the end, the House of Deputies speaker called for everyone to sing the national anthem⁴, and the scene returned to relative calm.

Mexican legal experts issued varying opinions on what would have happened, if the PRD had succeeded in preventing Mr. Calderon's entrance. 

The constitution calls for the new president to take the oath before a joint⁵ session of Congress, but Mr. Calderon had already assumed de facto power in an unprecedented⁶ midnight ceremony at the presidential residence, known as Los Pinos, in a joint appearance with the outgoing president.  There, Mr. Calderon swore in Cabinet members, who form his national security team, and then delivered an address to the nation.

He acknowledged what he called the "complexity⁷ of the political situation," but he said he and the opposition⁸ must put aside their differences for the good of the country.

Earlier on Friday, the former presidential candidate of the PRD and other leftist parties, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, rallied supporters, in an effort to impede⁹ Mr. Calderon's inauguration.  He won the July 2 presidential election by about half a percentage point ahead of Lopez Obrador, who immediately called the process fraudulent. 

Although a review of the election by the Mexican Federal Election Tribunal found no evidence of fraud, Lopez Obrador and his supporters have continued their protests, and he recently declared himself the "legitimate¹⁰ president."

But Friday's events made clear who holds real power in Mexico. Mr. Calderon has the support of the armed forces and the entire federal bureaucracy, plus all the privileges of the presidential office.  Public opinion polls indicate that more than 85 percent of Mexicans accept Mr. Calderon as the legitimate president.

1 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

4 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

7 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

8 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。

9 impede   

v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止

参考例句：

• One shouldn't impede other's progress.一个人不应该妨碍他人进步。
• The muddy roads impede our journey.我们的旅游被泥泞的道路阻挠了。

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。