VOA标准英语2009-Conservative Parties Cheer Victory in EU Par

Conservative parties across Europe are cheering their victory, following four days of voting for the E.U. Parliament that resulted in heavy losses for the left.
　
EU Commissioner¹ for Economy and Monetary² Affairs, Joaquin Almunia smiles during a live TV show at the European Parliament building in Brussels, 07 Jun 2009

Governing parties in a dozen European countries began the week on a down note, after suffering humiliating defeats in the European parliament elections. That included Britain, where the ruling Labor³ party marked its lowest score in decades, with about 16 percent of the vote. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was scheduled to meet later Monday with parliament members from his party.

Governing conservatives in France, Germany, Italy and Poland emerged winners in the voting to select the European Parliament's 736 deputies.

Leftist lawmakers like Martin Schulz, president of the parliament's Socialist⁴ group, say they are bitterly disappointed with the results.

Schulz says the vote marks a sad period for socialists⁵ in Europe. But he says the themes of the left - social values, more market regulation and fighting climate change - are as relevant as ever.

Analysts⁶ say voters wanted to punish the left for what they perceived as its inadequate⁷ response to the financial and economic crisis. Domestic issues also topped the agenda in countries like Britain, where the already unpopular Labor party is reeling over a scandal over lawmakers' perks⁸.

In some countries, such as Italy, Britain and the Netherlands, far-right parties running on anti-immigration and Euro-skeptic platforms scored gains in the elections, as did the Greens party in France. But voter apathy⁹ ruled the day, with only 43 percent of Europeans casting their ballot¹⁰ - a record low.

EU lawmaker Francis Wurtz of France says the rate of voter abstention showed lack of confidence in the European Union. Polls indicate many Europeans have little faith in the European Union and believe EU parliament members are overpaid and detached from their daily problems.

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 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

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 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

8 perks   

额外津贴，附带福利，外快( perk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perks offered by the firm include a car and free health insurance. 公司给予的额外待遇包括一辆汽车和免费健康保险。
• Are there any perks that go with your job? 你的工作有什么津贴吗？

9 apathy   

n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡

参考例句：

• He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
• She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。

10 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。