经济学人:希腊退出欧元区 究竟是谁抛弃了谁?

 　　Europe Greece and the euro

　　欧洲 希腊与欧元

　　Toil¹ and trouble

　　受苦受难

　　The government gets its latest austerity measures through, but only just

　　希腊新一轮紧缩政策终以微弱优势通过

　　Greece’s fragile coalition² government only narrowly averted³ disaster on November 7th when it won parliamentary approval for a drastic new austerity package. The package scraped through with 153 votes to 128 in the 300-member house.

　　11月7日，希腊风雨飘零的联合政府终于在国会通过了新一轮大规模财政紧缩的一揽子计划，但全过程命悬一线。在300人组成的国会中，该计划仅以153票对128票的微弱优势勉强得到通过。

　　Antonis Samaras, the prime minister, made the best of it, saying that “Greece has turned a page.” Meanwhile furious anti-austerity protesters outside parliament hurled⁴ stones and Molotov cocktails⁵ at police in what has become a grim ritual.

　　希腊总理安东尼斯·萨马拉斯（Antonis Samaras）对此大加吹捧，表示此刻“希腊翻开了崭新的一页”。而与此同时，紧缩政策的反对者们十分愤怒，他们在国会外向警察投掷石块和燃烧弹，这一严峻的事实已令人习以为常。

　　The debate over the latest austerity measures, the toughest yet, had turned angry even before lawmakers studied the 500-page “poly-law” before them. Presenting the four-year programme to parliament’s economics committee, Yannis Stournaras, the finance minister, fended⁶ off attacks from Syriza, the leftist opposition⁷ party, pointing out that if it were voted down Greece would lose a desperately⁸ needed 31.5 billion euro($40 billion) slice of its bail-out funding, would default on its next debt repayment⁹ and would surely then make a disorderly exit from the euro.

　　本次财政紧缩是目前规模最大的一次，甚至在立法机关亲自研究了这500页的“多方法案”之前，关于该政策的论辩已被激化。向国会经济委员会递呈这项四年计划的是希腊财长亚尼斯·斯图纳拉斯（Yannis Stournaras）。面对左翼反对党派“希腊极左翼联盟”（Syriza）的抨击，他回应称，若该计划未得到通过，那么，希腊将失去其急需的一笔315亿欧元（约400亿美元）救助金，进而无法在下一规定时间完成债务偿还，最终必然退出欧元区，引发经济混乱。

　　Mr Stournaras had gradually given ground over four months of negotiations¹⁰ with the “troika” of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF on the package to be implemented¹¹ in 2013 and 2014. Greek proposals for cuts in government operating costs were rejected as unrealistic. So they were replaced by “permanent” spending reductions, code for slashing¹² salaries and pensions.

　　斯图纳拉斯财长与“三驾马车”（troika，即欧盟、欧洲央行和国际货币基金组织）就本次预计于2013年至2014年实行的紧缩计划进行过谈判。在这场长达4个多月的谈判中，斯图纳拉斯不断陷入被动。希腊政府曾提议削减政府运营资本，但“三驾马车”认为该计划不够现实而予以否决。因此，最终希腊政府接受了“永久性”减少政府开支，这表示公务员的收入和年金将遭到大幅削减。

　　Many elderly Greeks’ worst fears were realised when the law was unveiled. The biggest chunk¹³ of savings¹⁴ next year, about 4.6 billion euro, comes from reducing pensions, starting with a 5% cut for those on a modest 1,000 euro a month. “It feels as if the troika has selected the old for special punishment,” commented Constantina Athanassakis, a 70-year-old retired¹⁵ hairdresser.

　　这一法案出炉的同时，众多希腊老人的噩梦成真了。政府明年预计达到的财政储蓄额度中，约46亿欧元的大头将通过降低养老金来获得。而首当其冲的则是对每月1000欧元的低额年金削减5%。“看来三驾马车选择让老人来接受这特殊的惩罚。”年高70的退休理发师Constantina Athanassakis表示。

　　Salaries of better-paid public-sector workers such as central-bank employees, university teachers, judges and hospital doctors, will also be cut. Salaries at public-sector corporations are being reduced by 35% and capped at 5,000 euro a month, which means take-home pay of just 2,900 euro for bosses and fewer perks¹⁶. Some cuts will be backdated. Next year’s budget assumes the economy will shrink by another 4.5%, but local economists¹⁷ predict that a collapse¹⁸ in spending by cash-strapped consumers could lead to an even bigger fall.

　　而如央行职员、大学教师、法院法官和医院医生这些公共部门的高薪岗位，同样面临减薪。国有企业员工的降薪幅度达35%，月薪将不得高于5000欧元。换言之，领导们的税后月薪将仅为2900欧元，津贴也将大幅缩减。其中，部分减薪还将提前施行。据财政部估计，明年希腊经济规模将再次缩减4.5%。但希腊国内经济学家则预计，本已囊中羞涩的消费者，加上本次开支削减，将使希腊经济面临进一步衰退。

　　Antonis Samaras, the centre-right prime minister, promises this will be the “last and final” round of cuts. But Greece’s creditors¹⁹ are not so sure, given the poor record of all Greek governments on reform. The economy is not expected to start growing again before 2015. Few observers expect the government to keep to its new timetable of cutting 110,000 civil-service jobs by 2016. The privatisation programme has been disappointing. With Greece looking politically unstable²⁰ and facing two more years of recession, it will be hard to attract foreign investors²¹.

　　对此，身处中间偏右派立场的萨马拉斯总理承诺本轮紧缩将是“最后最后一次”。但鉴于希腊政府在改革上鲜有佳绩，其债权国则并不表示乐观。据预计，希腊经济将至2015年才有望再次回升。希腊政府最新出台了2016年前削减11万公务员岗位的安排，但并不为观察家们所看好。另外，其私有化计划也收效甚微。像希腊这样政局动荡，外加后两年经济不振的国家，实非海外投资者的佳选。

　　It does not help that Mr Samaras’s three-party coalition is increasingly fragile. His centre-right New Democracy party is expected to stay loyal at the next parliamentary test, approving the 2013 budget this weekend. Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the small Democratic Left, has also pledged to back the government. But his decision to abstain²² from the vote on November 7th has undermined his credibility with Mr Samaras. Mr Kouvelis could soon face a leadership challenge.

　　即使财政紧缩计划得到了通过，也无力挽回萨马拉斯总理领导下三党联合政府（由希腊“新民主党”、“泛希腊社会主义运动”与“左翼民主党”于今年6月协商联合成立的政府，译者注）走向衰弱的事实。萨马拉斯总理所在的中右翼“新民主党”（New Democracy）将支持下一轮国会的考验，即本周末通过2013年财政预算。联合政府中的小党“左翼民主党”（Democratic Left）党首佛提斯·科维利斯（Fotis Kouvelis）同样宣誓忠于政府决定。但11月7日法案投票当天，科维利斯宣布弃权。这一行为有损于他与萨马拉斯总理间的信任。因此，科维利斯此后不久可能乌纱不保。

　　Many observers also believe that Evangelos Venizelos, leader of the PanHellenic Socialist²³ Movement (Pasok), may be unseated. Mr Venizelos’s reluctance²⁴ when serving as finance minister to investigate the so-called Lagarde list of 2,000 Greeks with bank accounts in Geneva has annoyed many in his party. Several former ministers think they could do a better job of rebuilding Pasok’s popularity, which is at an all-time low of around 6%, according to the polls. Yet if Pasok fragments, the government risks losing its majority—and the prospect²⁵ of a Grexit will loom²⁶ yet again.

　　据众多观察家表示，同样面临失势的还有“泛希腊社会主义运动”（Pasok，简称“泛希社运”）领导人伊万格勒斯·维尼则罗斯（Evangelos Venizelos）。这位前财长在任期间曾拒绝调查所谓的“拉加德名单”，该名单中记录着2000名拥有日内瓦银行账户的希腊人信息（即2000名有逃税嫌疑的希腊人，译者注）。此行为引来其党内众多人士的不满。据民调显示，泛希社运的支持率跌至历史最低的6%。对此，众多前任要员都认为，在重振该党支持率上，自己一定比维尼则罗斯要干得出色。但若泛希社运一旦分裂，联合政府可能失去国会的多数席位。随之而来的，将是“希腊脱欧”危机的再一次降临。

1 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 averted   

防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移

参考例句：

• A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。
• Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙，才避免了麻烦。

4 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句

6 fended   

v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的过去式和过去分词 )；挡开，避开

参考例句：

• He neatly fended off a jab at his chest. 他利落地挡开了当胸的一击。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I fended off his sword thrust with my spear. 他一刀砍来，我拿枪架住。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

9 repayment   

n.偿还，偿还款；报酬

参考例句：

• I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
• The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

12 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

13 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

14 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

15 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

16 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？

17 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

19 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

21 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

22 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

23 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。

24 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

25 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

26 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。