美国有线新闻 CNN 法国抗议示威活动愈演愈烈 马克龙取消上调燃油税计划

 

First story this Monday takes us to France where the nation's president is getting ready to address his country Monday. Growing protests have put tremendous pressure on his government. This is because of the "Yellow Vest" movement. It's called that because demonstrators wear the yellow safety vests that French drivers are required to keep in their cars.

It began over the French government's planned increase in fuel taxes. But it's expanded to include the rising costs of living, the gap between France's rich and poor, and general dissatisfaction with French President Emmanuel Macron. His government has cancelled plans to raise the fuel tax.

He's planning to meet with business and political leaders, trade unions and local officials on Monday to hear their concerns. And his national address is expected to focus on national unity¹.

But the protests, which have been going on for four weekends now, have had an impact. Because of violence at some of them, sports events have been cancelled. The Eiffel Tower has been closed to the public. France's finance minister says the protests have created a catastrophe² for the nation's economy and all this has raised questions about the future of the French presidency³ as well as the future of Europe.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The interior minister came out and shared some of the numbers. He said that nationwide, about 125,000 people have joined these protests, 10,000 of them here in Paris. He also said that 1,385 people were brought in for questioning, 974 remained in custody⁴.

Now, what's interesting is that earlier this week, the fuel tax that sparked these demonstrations⁵ that began on the 17 of November was cancelled, but nonetheless, there is broad discontent with the situation in France under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron, who is 40 years old, a former investment banker, many people feel that he's simply out of touch with the reality of life in France today.

So, there's a very good possibility that next week, there will be more protests.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

3 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。

4 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。