VOA常速英语2007年-Russia Votes Sunday Following Controversial Cam

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
01 December 2007

Voters in Russia go to the polls Sunday in a parliamentary election that follows a campaign dominated by President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia Party.  VOA Moscow correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports Mr. Putin is looking for a big win that will allow United Russia to further consolidate¹ power going into presidential elections on March 2.

The parliamentary campaign officially came to an end at midnight Friday, but opposition² parties say their efforts to convince voters never really started. The opposition accuses the Kremlin of stifling³ debate, denying access to nationwide television, confiscating⁴ campaign literature, and arresting political opponents.

During the campaign, Mr. Putin made clear his intention for United Russia to gain influence over all of the country's key power structures including parliament, federal and regional governments, the courts, and Central Bank.

Mr. Putin says an exceptionally important aspect of the parliamentary election is that it takes places a few months before the presidential election. He adds that a victory in the December election will lead to victory in the March presidential vote.

United Russia's media campaign advantage was clear.  President Putin was often shown on national television speaking in favor of his organization, and also harshly criticizing opponents as failed individuals or jackals with foreign ties who seek to humiliate⁵ and impoverish⁶ Russia. Rebuttals or return criticism by the opposition was relegated⁷ to small circulation newspapers. National TV access was denied.

A number of opposition parties were barred from participating in the election, including those forming a coalition⁸ led by former chess champion Garry Kasparov. He was arrested last week and sentenced to five days in jail for holding a demonstration⁹ that authorities did not allow. Kasparov sees Mr. Putin's frequent campaign activity as a sign of political trouble.

"He is trying to boost numbers for 'United Russia' because he knows the gap between virtual numbers that are trumpeted¹⁰ by Kremlin propaganda and real numbers," he said.  "The gap is growing.  People are quite concerned, they are annoyed. The prices are going up, the living standards are deteriorating¹¹. So, Putin is demonstrating that he is no longer confident".

The final day before the election in Russia is termed the day of silence. Mr. Putin was shown on national television Saturday spending part of the previous evening at a martial¹² arts exhibition in the capital. Also on Saturday, Russian national television networks announced a 30 percent increase in government pension benefits and a 15 percent hike in military salaries.  

More than 100 million Russians are eligible¹³ to vote, including those who live abroad but remain citizens of Russia.

1 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

2 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。

3 stifling   

a.令人窒息的

参考例句：

• The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热，光景是要下雨。
• We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里，简直透不过气来。

4 confiscating   

没收（confiscate的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• There was Mame by my side confiscating my intellects and attention. 有玛米坐在我身边，害得我心不在焉。
• Intimidate book sellers by confiscating books deemed unfavourable to the Barisan government. 充公被视为对国阵不利的书籍，威胁书商。

5 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。

6 impoverish   

vt.使穷困，使贫困

参考例句：

• We need to reduce the burden of taxes that impoverish the economy.我们需要减轻导致经济困顿的税收负荷。
• America still has enough credibility to a more profitable path that would impoverish its creditors slowly.美国尚有足够的信用来让其得以选择一条更加有利可图的路径使它的债权人们渐渐贫困枯竭。

7 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 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。

9 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

10 trumpeted   

大声说出或宣告（trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Soldiers trumpeted and bugled. 士兵们吹喇叭鸣号角。
• The radio trumpeted the presidential campaign across the country. 电台在全国范围大力宣传总统竞选运动。

11 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

12 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

13 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。