VOA标准英语2009-EU Budget Chief Becomes Lithuania's First Woman

Official results show European Union budget chief Dalia Grybauskaite has won the presidential elections in her native Lithuania, with nearly 70 percent of the vote. But she has little time to celebrate as the Baltic nation faces a major economic crisis.
　
Presidential candidate and EU Budget Commissioner¹ Dalia Grybauskaite, celebrates her victory at campaign headquarters in Vilnius, 18 May 2009

EU budget commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite declared victory in Lithuania's presidential poll, after official results showed she overwhelmingly defeated five other candidates by winning two-thirds of the ballots².

Election officials also said voter turnout was about 51 percent, just enough to avoid a second round.

Grybauskaite, a 53-year-old tough-talking former finance minister, decided³ to run for president as an independent candidate, as public anger about the Baltic nation's economic situation erupted into a riot outside parliament in January.

There has also been widespread frustration⁴ over allegations that several political leaders benefited from corruption⁵.

Grybauskaite claimed she was chosen as the country's first female president because many struggling Lithuanians no longer trust mainstream⁶ politicians.

"I think that the political elite⁷ devaluated themselves and people do not trust local politics any more," she said. "And my own experience and my own results in my career show people that I can be trusted."

Yet, Grybauskaite, who holds a black belt in karate⁸, now faces a political fight to help improve the economy, which is forecast to shrink by nearly 16 percent this year.

Unemployment in March stood at more than 15 percent, a dramatic jump from just more than four percent a year earlier.

Grybauskaite said she wants to help formulate⁹ a policy to stabilize¹⁰ public finances, stimulate¹¹ exports, absorb EU aid faster and provide tax breaks for small and medium-sized businesses.

She has criticized Lithuania's Social Democrats¹², who lost office in elections last year, for allegedly failing to take advantage of an economic boom and failing to prepare for a recession.

The ruling Conservatives say they are are supporting Grybauskaite's efforts. She has given broad approval to the Conservatives' austerity measures, but also warned them she will keep a critical eye on the government, which the president can dismiss.

Another crucial role of Lithuania's president will be to steer¹³ foreign policy, at a time of tense relations with Russia. Grybauskaite has already said she seeks to soften¹⁴ the strong language often directed towards Moscow.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 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》

3 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。

4 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

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 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

7 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

8 karate   

n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术)

参考例句：

• Alice's boyfriend knew a little karate.艾丽斯的男朋友懂一点儿空手道。
• The black belt is the highest level in karate.黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。

9 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

10 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

11 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

12 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

14 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。