VOA常速英语2017--安哥拉人民为大选行使民主投票权利

On August 23, Angolans went to the polls to elect a new parliament, and to determine who would replace President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has governed the country for the past 38 years. It was Angola's fourth such election since independence from Portugal in 1975.

8月23日，安哥拉进行投票以选举新的国民议会，以决定谁将代替总统桑托斯。桑托斯已在位38年之久。这是安哥拉自1975年脱离葡萄牙统治以来的第四次大选。

In 1979, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos succeeded the country's first President, Agostinho Neto. This year, President Dos Santos declined to stand for another election. Instead, Angolan Defense¹ Minister Jo?o Louren?o topped the party list for the ruling MPLA party. The MPLA won the election with 61 percent of the vote, giving them a majority of seats in parliament and making Jo?o Louren?o the next President. Five opposition² parties split the remaining 39 percent of the vote.

1979年，桑托斯从安哥拉第一任总统阿戈什蒂纽 内图之手获得了政权。今年，桑托斯拒绝再次参加大选。而国防部部长洛伦索(Jo?o Louren?o)成为执政党安哥拉人民解放运动(MPLA)的候选名单之首。安哥拉人民解放运动以61%的票比赢得了大选，让他们在过敏议会中占据了大多数席位，并推举洛伦索为下一任总统。而剩下39%的票比由5个反对党获得。

The United States congratulates the people of Angola for exercising their democratic right to vote in the August 23 historic national elections. We look forward to working with President-elect Jo?o Louren?o and the new Parliament of the Republic of Angola to further strengthen our bilateral³ relationship, said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert in a written statement.

美国祝贺安哥拉人民在8月23日的历史性全国大选中行使了自己投票的民主权利。我们期待与总统洛伦索以及新一届安哥拉国民议会进行合作，以进一步加强我们的双边关系，美国国务院发言人诺尔特在一份书面声明中如是写道。

The United States stands by the people of Angola in their efforts to build strong, democratic, and inclusive institutions that are dedicated⁴ to ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for all Angolans.

美国支持安哥拉人民构建强健、民主、包容的政府机构，致力于为安哥拉人民确保和平繁荣的未来。

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 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。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。