2006年VOA标准英语-Political Newcomer Wins Benin Election

By Franz Wild
Abidjan
23 March 2006

Political newcomer Yayi Boni has won a second round run-off election to become Benin's next president. 

Yayi Boni casts his ballot¹ during runoff vote   
  
With three-quarters of the vote in his favor, Yayi Boni looks set to be sworn in as Benin's next president on April 6.

Just over two-thirds of the electorate² turned out for the second round, which was a run-off between independent candidate Boni and former speaker of parliament Adrien Houngbedji. He had run for president three times previously³.

A former head of the West African Development Bank, Boni was a clear favorite after the first round.  Houngbedji conceded defeat as soon as the provisional results were released late on Wednesday.

He said he was happy with the way the election was conducted, and congratulated his opponent.

Adrien Houngbedji cast's his ballot during runoff vote   
  
"I am very happy for Yayi Boni," Houngbedji said. "These results are sensational⁴.  I have just spoken with him to congratulate him and to wish him success with his mandate⁵ to lead Benin. I would also like to thank my entire team. I am very pleased with the way this campaign has gone."

Benin has been suffering economically. The election campaign centered around job creation and economic revival⁶.

Cotonou-based political analyst⁷ Gerard Guedegbe says people in Benin are expecting a lot from the new president.

"People here think that the arrival of Yayi Boni could stabilize⁸ the economy," he said.  "We hope that we will have some sort of economic revival, that there will be more jobs for people, and that some of the social problems that we are going through now will be solved."

 
Cena members deliver Benin election results 
  
All the main candidates, who were excluded in the first round of voting supported Boni in the second round.

Political analyst Guedegbe says that many Beninois are worried he will surround himself with the wrong people.

"There is a fear by the population, because we saw that, for the run-off election, many politicians here supported him," he noted⁹.  "They think that, if those people are around him, it could turn into some sort of comeback for the former political class that the people have rejected."

Boni will succeed outgoing President Mathieu Kerekou, who led Benin for most of the past three decades, opening it to multi-party democracy in 1990. A constitutional two-term limit and an age limit barred Kerekou, 72, from seeking re-election.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 sensational   

adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的

参考例句：

• Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
• Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。

5 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

6 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。