2007年VOA标准英语-Turkey's Ruling Islamic Party Wins Parliamentar

By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
22 July 2007

Turkey ruling Justice and Development Party scored a big victory in Sunday's parliamentary election, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency. With most of the votes counted, the agency said the Islamic-rooted party won 331 seats in the 550-member legislature. For VOA news Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.

Supporters of Justice and Development Party hold posters of PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan as they wave party flags outside of party headquarters in Ankara, 22 July 2007

Supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party, celebrated¹ their victory early. With more than 95 percent of the votes counted, the party of Prime Minister Reecep Tayyip Erdogan won almost three times as many seats as its nearest rival, the secular² Republican Peoples' Party, which won 111 seats. The Nationalist Action Party won 70 seats and independents 27 seats.

Turnout at the polls was seen by observers as heavy and there were no irregularities or violence reported.

After casting his vote, Mr. Erdogan appealed for national unity³ and said the election will strengthen democracy in Turkey.

One of the first challenges the new parliament faces is the election of Turkey's president. Last May, Mr. Erdogan withdrew the nomination⁴ of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a devout⁵ Muslim, after the opposition⁶ claimed this amounted to an Islamic takeover of the government, and the military threatened to intervene.

Political scientist Murat Ciftkaya of Yeditepe University says many voters sided with the prime minister in the Gul affair.

"Turkish people tend to vote for the people who are victimized and I think that Recep Tayyip Erdogan success party depended on this," he said.

 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses an election rally, 20 July 2007

The prime minister's success in Sunday's election was also seen as voter endorsement⁷ of the government's economic policies which have helped to produce four years of record growth.

While the prime minister has scored a major victory, he has failed to secure a two thirds majority in parliament. That means he needs the support of another party to elect the president.

Parliament has to elect the president within 30 days of convening⁸, otherwise another election is automatically held.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

6 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。

7 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

8 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。