2006年VOA标准英语-Peru Prepares for National Elections Sunda

By Michael Bowman
Lima
07 April 2006
 
Peruvian presidential candidates have delivered their final speeches in Lima ahead of Sunday's national elections. In the second of a two-part series, VOA's Michael Bowman reports, the contenders include a center-right candidate who hopes to become Peru's first female leader.

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Lourdes Flores   
  

Thousands of Peruvians packed a Lima plaza¹ to give a warm welcome to Lourdes Flores, an attorney who professes² free market principles and is considered friendly to the United States.

Addressing supporters, Flores says she will represent all Peruvians. Opponents have branded her a lackey³ of Peru's old oligarchy⁴ and a slave to large corporations.

In her last major address of the campaign, Flores stressed her commitment to fighting poverty and improving the lives of all Peruvians. When she spoke⁵ of expanding business opportunities, she spoke not of big corporations but of small, family-run enterprises.

"I want to address all micro-business owners," she said. "You are the critical element in creating wealth and jobs in our country. And I want to make clear that I aspire⁶ to govern so that the economy, in the hands of small businesses, flourishes and provides work and opportunity for Peru's families."

Lima slum-dweller Maribel Pena says she is not impressed.

"I think Flores will be on the side of the very rich people, the millionaires," she said.

Even Flores' most ardent⁷ supporters acknowledge she is less charismatic than many of the other 20-plus presidential contenders. Backers say she will lead a competent, if less than flashy, government.

Engineering student Carlos Gonzalez says he is not enthusiastic about Flores, but she will get his vote by default.

"My vote will have to go to Lourdes Flores, which is not ideal," he said. "But what can I do? Here in Peru one ends up voting for someone because no one better has emerged." 

 
Ollanta Humala 
  
Opinion polls show a tight three-way contest between Flores, populist firebrand Ollanta Humala, and former President Alan Garcia. Humala recently predicted Flores, if elected, would be overthrown⁸ within a year. The Flores campaign fired back that Humala, an ex-military officer who once led a failed rebellion, aims to sow conflict if he is defeated at the ballot⁹ box.

A top adviser¹⁰ to Humala, Gonzalo Garcia Nunez, says that given the Peruvian people's desire for change, it is entirely¹¹ reasonable to say that if elected, she would not be able to stay in office for a full term.

"Lourdes and others advocate maintaining the status quo, and that is risky," he said. "There are other examples in Latin America where similar governments proved to be fragile."

Vendor¹² stands by her cart in front of banner of presidential candidates Ollanta Humala, left, and Alan Garcia, right, in Lima   
  
But Lourdes Flores says it is demagogic populism that has repeatedly failed in Latin America. In a thinly veiled jab at Humala, she said Peruvians will no longer be seduced¹³ by candidates who offer nothing but heavy rhetoric¹⁴ and empty promises.

Polling data show Flores' support is strongest in urban areas, especially among female voters. Lima resident Ana Mora says the time has come for a woman to lead.

"Lourdes has very good ideas," she said. "Her message is steady, unlike those of other candidates. And, she is a woman - like me."

For her part, Flores says she will not let her female compatriots down.

"I want to tell the women of Peru: I am aware of the immense responsibility that is on my shoulders," she said. "But I have faith that Peru will, for the first time, give us a chance to lead. I swear to you from my soul, this is my greatest promise: I will not betray you. I will preserve the good name of the women of Peru."

But is Peru ready for a woman president? Public opinion pollster Alfredo Torres says only time will tell.

"Flores has had much success with the female part of the electorate," he said. "But it is true that some men with "macho" [sexist] attitudes in the interior of the country could serve as a counter-balance."

1 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

2 professes   

声称( profess的第三人称单数 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉

参考例句：

• She still professes her innocence. 她仍然声称自己无辜。
• He professes himself to be sad but doesn't look it. 他自称感到悲伤，但外表却看不出来。

3 lackey   

n.侍从；跟班

参考例句：

• I'm not staying as a paid lackey to act as your yes-man.我不要再做拿钱任你使唤的应声虫。
• Who would have thought that Fredo would become a lackey of women?谁能料到弗烈特竟堕落成女人脚下的哈叭狗？

4 oligarchy   

n.寡头政治

参考例句：

• The only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism.寡头政体的唯一可靠基础是集体主义。
• Insecure and fearful of its own people,the oligarchy preserves itself through tyranny.由于担心和害怕自己的人民，统治集团只能靠实行暴政来维护其统治。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

7 ardent   

adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的

参考例句：

• He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
• Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。

8 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

9 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。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

13 seduced   

诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷

参考例句：

• The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。

14 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。