VOA常速英语2008年-Left Gains in French Local Elections

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
17 March 2008

France's left emerged the winner in the second round of local elections Sunday, but the vote was not the resounding¹ rejection² of the policies of center-right President Nicolas Sarkozy and his government the opposition³ Socialists⁵ had hoped for. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris.

Preliminary results showed France's Socialist⁴ Party had scored wins in key cities, including Paris, Strasbourg, Rheims and Lille. Overall, the left was ahead by 49 percent of the vote compared to 47.5 percent for the right, according to preliminary results, reversing wins by the conservatives in the last 2001 municipal elections.

Still first results showed the right had retained another key battleground - the southern city of Marseille.

Turnout was slightly lower than during the first round of voting March 9, at around 54 percent.

Socialist Party leaders, in claiming victory, maintained voters sent a clear message of disapproval⁶ to the center-right president Nicolas Sarkozy and his government.

But French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the government would hold its course, and cautioned against reading too much into a local election.

Prime Minister Fillon said it was not appropriate to draw national lessons from a vote for city and county seats. In a veiled criticism of the left, he said the results should not be used for partisan⁷ purposes.

French analyst⁸ Pascal Perrineau was also cautious.

Perrineau told France-Info radio that it was important not to draw overly broad national conclusions from the local ballots⁹.

A BVA poll published Sunday found nearly two-thirds of French wanted the government and Mr. Sarkozy to change its policies. But a large majority of conservatives wanted the government to continue pushing its reform platform.

A major cabinet reshuffle is not expected, although French media speculate some senior government members could lose their jobs. Changes are also expected when it comes to Mr. Sarkozy's style of presidency¹⁰.

After scoring high marks following his election last year, the French president plummeted¹¹ in recent popularity polls, mainly because of his reform program and perceptions his tumultuous personal life was hurting his effectiveness as president.

1 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

2 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

3 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。

4 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

5 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

6 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

7 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 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》

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

11 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》