2007年VOA标准英语-Electoral Disputes Continue Days Before Benin's

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
22 March 2007

In Benin, disputes over ballots¹ and voter registration² lists have pushed preparations for Sunday's parliament election to the last minute. A spokesman with the national electoral commission says he believes ballots will be printed and distributed in time, despite this week's electoral disputes. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa Bureau in Dakar.

Boni Yayi (file photo)

The National Electoral Commission met to finalize³ the impeachment⁴ of its leader Antonin Akpinkoun over concerns of corruption⁵. Commission officials accused Akpinkoun of choosing a printing company for the ballots that is closely tied to President Thomas Boni Yayi.

But the constitutional court ruled the electoral commission did not follow rules to notify all members about the impeachment.

Spokesman Michel Alokpo said the commission was meeting to comply with the ruling, so that it could install new commission president Eugene Capo Chichi.

"We need to send an official letter to each member of CENA [National Electoral Commission] and to see what will happen," he said.

In addition to concerns about corruption with the ballots, the commission has had problems getting voter registration lists from some districts.

Commission spokesman Alokpo said Wednesday that if the lists did not arrive by Thursday, the parliamentary election would not take place because the commission would not know how many ballots to print.

But the lists have started arriving.

"We [were] waiting for the lists until yesterday, but I think most of the lists [are] here now. We will do our best to organize the election. By the grace of God, I am a believer," said Alokpo.

Alokpo is hopeful a new printer can finish by Friday so the commission can distribute the ballots. He says the commission is now focused on training election observers.

"We do our best to control the fraud during this election," he added.

Benin has had multi-party elections for a little over 15 years. During most of that time, 72-year-old Mathieu Kerekou ruled until he stepped down last year because of a constitutional age limit.

Mr. Yayi, a former banker elected last year, hopes his coalition⁶ will win a parliament majority to reinforce his administration.

Accusations⁷ of fraud have plagued previous elections.

1 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

3 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

4 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 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。

7 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。