VOA慢速英语2019 泰国将举行自2014年政变以来的第一次大选（在线收听）

Thailand To Hold First General Election Since 2014 Coup

On Sunday, voters in Thailand will choose members of the lower house of parliament.

泰国选民周日将会选出下议院议员。

The general election comes after several delays. It will be the first since the country’s military seized power in 2014.

这次大选经历了数次推迟，这将是2014年军方夺取政权以来的第一次选举。

Thousands of candidates are competing for 350 directly elected seats in the lower house. Another 150 are decided through a complex system of proportional representation.

上千名候选人将会竞争下议院350个直选席位，另外150个席位要通过比例代表制这个复杂体系来确定。

Observers say one of the major issues voters are considering is whether to support the continuation of military rule. But no matter what candidates are elected, the military is likely to keep much of its political power.

观察家表示，是否继续支持军事统治是选民们考虑的主要问题之一。但是无论谁当选，军方都能保留其大部分政治权力。

That is partly because Thailand’s military strongly influenced the writing of the constitution that was accepted in 2017. The constitution gives the military power to appoint all 250 members in parliament’s upper house. The constitution also limits the number of lower house members of parliament voters can elect directly.

部分原因是因为泰国军队强烈影响了2017年通过的宪法的修订。这部宪法赋予了军队在上议院任命250名议员的权力，同时还限制了选民可以直接选出的下议院议员的数量。

The process is expected to lessen the influence of large parties. Instead, many smaller parties are expected to gain power and form a coalition government.

这一选举程序预计将会减轻大型政党的影响，相反，很多小党派预计将会掌权并组建联合政府。

Thai voters

泰国选民

Observers say Thais’ interest in the election is unusually high. About 75 percent of those registered to vote are expected to do so, says Aim Sinpeng. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney.

观察人士称，泰国人对选举的兴趣异常高涨。Aim Sinpeng是悉尼大学政府和国际关系学院的助理教授，她称大约75%的注册选民预计将会参加投票。

Thailand’s Election Commission reports that over 86 percent of registered early voters have already made their choices.

泰国选举委员会报告称，超过86%的早期登记选民已经做出了决定。

In addition to the military question, voters are expected to consider economic conditions and growing inequality between rich and poor.

除了军事问题，预计选民还会考虑到经济状况和贫富差距日益扩大。

The Associated Press has identified some of the important voting groups. They include struggling farmers and workers, who usually vote for candidates who promise financial help. Young people are also, in general, seeking better jobs and financial gains.

美联社已经看穿了一些重要的投票群体，他们包括苦苦挣扎的农民和工人。通常他们会投票给承诺提供经济援助的候选人。一般来说年轻人也在寻求更好的工作和经济收益。

On the other hand, powerful business interests and wealthy families usually want political stability. People connected to the military are also likely to want to keep things the same.

另一方面，强大的商业利益和富裕家庭通常希望政治稳定，与军方有联系的人可能也希望保持现状。

And middle class voters in Bangkok have divided interests. They would like to see reforms in education, government and other areas. But they also want peace and order, says historian Chris Baker, who wrote a book on Thailand.

历史学家克里斯·贝克（Chris Baker）表示，曼谷的中产阶级选民有不同的利益。他们希望看到教育、政府和其它领域的改革，但他们也想要和平和秩序。贝克写了一本关于泰国的书。

Official election results are expected by May 9.

正式选举结果预计将在5月9日公布。

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

proportional representation - adj. a system in which the number of seats held by members of a political party in a legislature (such as a parliament) is determined by the number of votes its candidates receive in an election

stability - n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change