2007年VOA标准英语-Russian Parliament Approves Political Unkown, Z

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
14 September 2007

 

The Russian Parliament has overwhelmingly approved President Vladimir Putin's choice to be the country's new Prime Minister. VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports that until Viktor Zubkov's surprise nomination¹ two days ago, Russia's new head of government was little known by the lawmakers who voted for him.

Picture taken 31 May 2006 shows Viktor Zubkov speaking at a conference in St. Petersburg

Viktor Zubkov assumes the prime minister's position with 381 members of the State Duma, or lower house of the Russian Parliament, voting to approve his nomination. Forty-seven voted against with eight abstentions.

The vote was preceded by a 15-minute address by Mr. Zubkov and a 30 minute question and answer period with lawmakers. The nominee² agreed with Duma members that changes are needed in the cabinet's social ministries³. Relying on his experience as the head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, he underscored the need to fight corruption⁴.

"Society should work together with law enforcement. Only then will the system bring about order with this issue," Mr. Zubkov said.

Opposition⁵ to the new prime minister came mostly from Communist lawmakers. Party Chairman Gennadi Zyuganov explains why.

"It's because you agreed to implement⁶ old policies," said Zyuganov. "That road will not take Russia into the 21st century."

The emergence⁷ of Mr. Zubkov, a virtual unknown until his nomination two days ago, came as a surprise to Russian political observers. His quick approval by the State Duma does not surprise Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian radio and TV anchor, who says it is a Russian tradition to approve the president's choice of prime minister.

"The Russian constitution does not consider the position of prime minister to be of global importance," said Solovyov, "because the Yeltsin-era constitution secures the presidency⁸ above all."

President Putin praised his new prime minister as top professional, a decent person and brilliant administrator⁹. The president also said Mr. Zubkov, like any Russian citizen, may compete in Russia's next presidential election. Mr. Putin is prohibited by the constitution to run for a third consecutive¹⁰ term in office. But there is widespread speculation¹¹ that he is leaving only to return four years later, and expects Zubkov - a 66-year-old with no political base of his own - to serve as a place holder¹² until Mr. Putin is eligible¹³ for the presidency again.

Alexander Konovalev, director of the Strategic Assessments¹⁴ Institute in Moscow, says ruling elites¹⁵ have a stake in Mr. Putin's return.

"Putin is a brand; the brand of the corporation known as the Russian bureaucracy. For many, Putin's departure could mean the loss of revenue sources, and perhaps even loss of freedom, because some could be facing jail," he said.

Konovalev adds that Mr. Putin could return in as little as two years, if his successor steps down prematurely¹⁶ for health or other reasons. Prime Minister Zubkov has already said he may run for the presidency. The election is scheduled for March 2008.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

3 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

4 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。

5 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。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

10 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

11 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

12 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

13 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

14 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句

15 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

16 prematurely   

adv.过早地，贸然地

参考例句：

• She was born prematurely with poorly developed lungs. 她早产，肺部未发育健全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His hair was prematurely white, but his busy eyebrows were still jet-black. 他的头发已经白了，不过两道浓眉还是乌黑乌黑的。 来自辞典例句