2006年VOA标准英语-Thousands Demand Resignation of Hungarian Prime

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
23 September 2006

Tens-of-thousands of Hungarians rallied Saturday and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in the largest anti-government demonstration¹ so far. The protest comes nearly a week after a tape recording² was leaked in which the prime minister admits he lied about the economy.

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Angry protestors, many waving Hungarian flags, shouted slogans against Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, who they say betrayed their country by lying to the voters. In a speech recorded at a closed party meeting that was leaked to Hungarian radio, Mr. Gyurcsany can be heard telling colleagues that he and his Socialist³-led government "lied morning, evening and night" about the economy.

Thousands of right wing demonstrators gather in front of Hungarian Parliament building during seventh day of their protest calling for Prime Minister Ferenc Gyrurcsany to resign  
  
Saturday's protests took place in front of the parliament building in Budapest. Riot police blockaded the parliament building in an attempt to prevent the protest from escalating⁴ into violent street riots like the ones that took place earlier in the week in which more than 250 people were injured and hundreds were arrested.

Among the speakers at Saturday's protests was Imre Pozsgay, a former Minister of State in the old Communist government who played a role in the transformation⁵ to democracy in 1989.

He says the majority of Hungarians have enough of lies. Speaking of the Socialist-led government, he adds, "they wanted to take away our self-respect, so let's restore it. That's why we are here."

Pal⁶ Schmitt, a member of the European Parliament from Hungary's center-right opposition⁷ party, Fidesz, told demonstrators that the prime minister has caused a moral crisis in his country.

He says the upcoming municipal elections on October 1 will be a referendum on the government's performance. He says they will be an opportunity for the left and right wing to in his words "declare their belief in justice sincerity⁸, peace, quiet and Hungary's development."
 

Ferenc Gyurcsany  
  
Yet independent public opinion polls show that a slight majority of Hungarians do not want Prime Minister Gyurcsany to resign. Mr. Gyurcsany himself has told reporters he made his remarks about lying to provoke a discussion and to encourage Hungary's political establishment to stop what he calls years of "political deception⁹."

He said earlier Saturday, that he will close his Socialist party headquarters. It has been the focus of many of the protests, both violent and non-violent, this past week.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 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。

4 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

5 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

6 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

7 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。

8 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

9 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。