2007年VOA标准英语-France Prepares For Close Vote in Sunday's Pres

By Anita Elash
Paris
20 April 2007

Friday is the last day of campaigning before the first round of voting in the presidential election in France.  The two leading candidates, former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist¹ Party candidate Segolene Royal, are running neck and neck.  But record numbers of voters are still undecided. Anita Elash reports for VOA from Paris. 

French President Jacques Chirac, right, walks behind French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy (File photo)

The latest opinion polls put two candidates well in the lead. Former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy is in first place. His closest rival, Socialist Party candidate Segolene Royal, is just a few points behind. But the polls also show that with just two days to go, about 40 percent of voters still haven't decided². Of those who have, nearly half are wavering.

By law, the candidates must stop campaigning at midnight tonight.  They've spent the last few days trying to win the votes of those who cannot make up their mind.

Segolene Royal is worried about a repeat of the last election, when the Socialist Party candidate lost to far right leader Jean Marie Le Pen in the first round.  She was in the southern city of Toulouse last night.

"I'm asking everyone who believes in the same values as I do to come and vote for me starting with the first round," she told supporters.

Nicolas Sarkozy has been battling a concerted attack from his opponents. In Marseille last night, he continued with his message that he would restore French pride.

"The first round is just the first step," he said.  "I'm asking you to make my fight your fight. I'm asking you to stand up for the silent majority that no longer wants someone else to speak for them. Long live the republic! Long live France!"

There are 10 other candidates in this election. They include a Communist, three Trotskyists, an anti-globalizaion campaigner, and a man who defends the rights of hunters and fisherman. Centrist Francois Bayrou, a historian and part-time horse farmer, is in third place, and Jean Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right National Front, is in fourth.

Most analysts³ say Sarkozy and Royal will likely make it through to the second and final round of voting. But with so many candidates and so many undecided voters, either Bayrou or Le Pen could cause an upset.

1 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。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。