VOA标准英语10月-Conservatives Win Lithuanian Parliamentary Electi

Preliminary official results from Lithuania's parliamentary election indicate the main conservative opposition¹ party has won the first round of the former Soviet² republic's parliamentary elections, heralding³ the end of years of Social Democratic rule led by Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas. The Homeland Union received about 18 percent of the vote, but the strong support for populist parties is expected to make it difficult to form a coalition⁴ government. As Stefan Bos reports for VOA, voters also decided⁵ Sunday on the future of a controversial nuclear power plant in a non-binding⁶ referendum closely watched by the European Union.
　

Man, accompanied by his children, casts his ballot7 in Vilnius, 12 Oct 2008

The apparent victory of Lithuania's conservative Homeland Union Party in parliamentary elections Sunday came amid voter anger over the Baltic country's economic difficulties after years of spectacular growth.

Difficult talks are expected between the Homeland Union and two populist parties of a former president and a Russian millionaire, that received at least a quarter of the cast ballots⁸.

The Homeland Union, led by former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, is a traditional tax-cutting conservative party but it also says the budget deficit⁹ could rise and this could mean a delay in the country's attempts to introduce the Euro currency. The party is also the one which most often raises the issue of Russia as a threat to Lithuania.

Yet voters seem to believe that not much will change in their country, whoever comes to power, as they told EuroNews Television.

"If you look at the party programs, they are very much similar, therefore personalities¹⁰ on the party lists will decide whom to vote for," one man said.

Under Lithuania's election rules, a second round of voting will be held on October 26, which observers say could still impact the final party line-up.

Whoever comes to power will have to tackle double digit¹¹ inflation and fears the once high flying economy will slide in the global financial crisis.

Sunday's ballot also featured a non binding referendum on whether to keep a controversial Soviet-era nuclear plant operating beyond its scheduled closure in 2009. The Election Commission said the referendum may be invalid¹², because of a low turnout, a setback¹³ for authorities who wanted to pressure the European Union.

EU members want Lithuania's nuclear station to be closed because of design problems similar to those in the Ukrainian plant of Chernobyl, which caused the world's worst nuclear disaster.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has made clear Lithuania agreed to close the Soviet-era plant by the end of 2009 as part of its deal to join the European Union in 2004.

"There is a commitment, a legal commitment, arising out of the accession treaty that is not at the discretion¹⁴ of either Lithuania or the Commission," Barroso said. "This is a commitment that must be honoured as we must never compromise on safety. So I of course, as guardian¹⁵ of the treaty at the Commission can only say that the treaties have to be respected."

However Lithuanian Prime Minister Kirkilas has told the EU that Lithuanians would have to face sharp energy rises as a result of the closure of the Ignalina plant, which provides 70 percent of the country's needs.

Observers say many Lithuanians believe that the closure of the plant would make them once again dependent on Russia. Lithuania broke away from the Soviet Union in 1990.

1 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。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 heralding   

v.预示( herald的现在分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• It is the heralding of a new age of responsibilities. 那预示着一个充满责任的新时期的开始。 来自互联网
• Streaks of faint light were rising, heralding a new day. 几道淡淡的晨曦正在升起，预示新的一天的来临。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

7 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

8 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》

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

10 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

11 digit   

n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾

参考例句：

• Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。
• Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

12 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

13 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

14 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

15 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。