VOA标准英语2008年-Doubts, Problems Face New Mauritanian Governmen

Opposition¹ leaders in Mauritania have voiced concerns over the composition of the new government in Nouakchott. Brent Latham reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar the new government is facing a lack of broad popular support and a worsening socio-economic situation.
　
Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf, 03 Jun 2008

Opposition parties in Mauritania are expressing concern over the composition of the new government installed by Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf.

The previous government, also headed by Mr. Waghf, resigned July 3, after only seven weeks to avoid a censure² motion to be filed by members of the ruling party in parliament. Unlike the previous government, the new one includes only members of the ruling National Pact³ for Development and Democracy party.

A lawyer and spokesman for one of the opposition parties, Brahim Ould Ebety, says the snub will cost the ruling party popular support.

Ebety says the new government has no popular base and will not last more than a few months. He says the new government is unlikely to present new ideas to combat the problems Mauritanians face, including the on-going crisis of rising food and fuel costs.

An Africa analyst⁴ for London-based economic and political forecasting group Global Insight, Kissy Agyeman, says the new government faces the same challenges as the old one.

"The point is that it was not just for the fact that the previous government had members of the opposition in it that it folded, but also because the legislative⁵ had become very impatient with the situation on the ground and those soaring food and commodity prices," said Kissy Agyeman. "There was a sense that the prime minister had not taken a hold of the situation firmly enough."

Agyeman says the Prime Minister has not outlined his new plan for tackling Mauritania's difficulties. She says the socio-economic situation the country faces is likely to pose problems, especially if the new government is unable to garner⁶ popular support.

Despite the challenges, Agyeman says the new government may bring a measure of stability to Mauritania, because rebel factions⁷ in the ruling party have been accommodated.

"What you can deduce from this new line-up is that the prime minister has been keen to placate⁸ the dissident voices within the parliament, those who filed a motion of no confidence against his last government, who were saying that there were too many moderate Islamists in the government and too many opposition members," she said. "On the face of it, it should give some sort of stability, but for how long is the question. "

The new government is the third in 15 months for the impoverished⁹ nation. Mauritania's young democracy has endured turbulence¹⁰ since long-time ruler Maaouiya Ould Taya was deposed¹¹ in a military coup¹² in 2005, the leader of which then handed power over to the democratically-elected and current President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abadallahi.

　

 

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 censure   

v./n.责备；非难；责难

参考例句：

• You must not censure him until you know the whole story.在弄清全部事实真相前不要谴责他。
• His dishonest behaviour came under severe censure.他的不诚实行为受到了严厉指责。

3 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

4 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。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

6 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

7 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

8 placate   

v.抚慰，平息(愤怒)

参考例句：

• He never attempts to placate his enemy.他从不企图与敌人和解。
• Even a written apology failed to placate the indignant hostess.甚至一纸书面道歉都没能安抚这个怒气冲冲的女主人。

9 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 turbulence   

n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流

参考例句：

• The turbulence caused the plane to turn over.空气的激流导致飞机翻转。
• The world advances amidst turbulence.世界在动荡中前进。

11 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。