Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin walk along tha stage to address the audience during the United Russia congress in Moscow September 24, 2011.(Agencies) |
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ended months of speculation by saying he will run for president next March in an election that could open the way for him to stay in power for 12 more years. Putin's announcement was greeted by a standing ovation on Saturday at a congress of his ruling United Russia party, but it alarmed critics who say his return to the presidency could herald an era of political and economic stagnation. He and President Dmitry Medvedev have ruled in a power 'tandem' since Putin was forced by the constitution to yield the presidency in 2008 after serving a maximum two consecutive terms. Putin, 58, accepted a proposal by Medvedev to return as president in the carefully choreographed congress in a Moscow sports stadium. "I want to say directly: (Medvedev and I) reached an agreement between ourselves long ago, several years ago, on what to do in the future, on who should do what," Putin said. "But both I and Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev believe that this is far from being the most important thing -- who will do what, who will sit in what place. What is far more important is something else: how we will all work, what results we achieve, and what the citizens of our country think of this." Over 11 years in power, Putin has cultivated the image of a vigorous leader and been filmed riding bare-chested on horseback, scuba diving and showing off his judo skills. His policies -- crushing a Chechen separatist rebellion, taming super-rich businessmen and bringing wayward regions to heel -- have similarly won him popularity among Russians. Putin, described in leaked US diplomatic cables as the "Alpha dog" in the tandem, proposed his younger and more liberal protege replace him as prime minister after the election to lead a young reformist government. As president from 2000 to 2008, Putin oversaw an economic boom where household incomes improved on the back of a rise in global oil prices, and his tough talking and macho image helped restore Russia's self-confidence on the world stage. Some economists say his return to the Kremlin makes it less likely that Russia will carry out much-needed changes such as pension reforms and reducing Russia's dependency on natural resources. Oil and gas revenues make up half the budget. Others say Putin and Medvedev differ more in style than policy. (Read by Christine Mallari. Christine Mallari is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies)
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俄羅斯總理弗拉基米爾?普京日前表示,將于明年三月參選總統(tǒng)。如果順利,他將在未來12年內(nèi)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)俄羅斯。此前數(shù)月關(guān)于普京參選的猜測(cè)也終于告一段落。 普京在其領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的統(tǒng)一俄羅斯黨代表大會(huì)上作出上述表態(tài),眾人聽聞后長(zhǎng)時(shí)間起立鼓掌。但有批評(píng)人士擔(dān)心,普京重返總統(tǒng)職位會(huì)導(dǎo)致政治、經(jīng)濟(jì)新一輪停滯。 俄憲法規(guī)定,總統(tǒng)最多連任兩屆,普京迫于此規(guī)定,在2008年卸任總統(tǒng),之后他和德米特里?梅德韋杰夫就開始了政權(quán)的“輪流交替”。 在莫斯科體育館舉行的精心設(shè)計(jì)的大會(huì)上,58歲的普京接受了梅德韋杰夫的建議,決定重回總統(tǒng)職位。 普京說:“直接說吧,我和梅德韋杰夫幾年前就私下達(dá)成了協(xié)議,把未來的分工和角色問題說好了。” “但我倆都認(rèn)為,誰做什么,誰當(dāng)總統(tǒng),這絕不是最重要的。最重要的是,我們?nèi)绾稳墓ぷ鳎瑢?shí)現(xiàn)什么結(jié)果,以及民眾怎么想。” 在11年的執(zhí)政期內(nèi),普京樹立了一個(gè)精力充沛的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人形象,曾被拍到赤裸上身騎馬、潛水,還展示過柔道功夫。鎮(zhèn)壓車臣分裂主義叛亂、制服富豪商人、使不安定的地區(qū)歸順等政策也使他在俄羅斯民眾中樹立了相當(dāng)高的聲望。 普京在之前遭泄露的美國(guó)外交電報(bào)中被描述為俄羅斯政壇交替中的“帶頭大哥”。他還提議自己年輕的新派門生在選舉后接替總理職位,以樹立政府的年輕改革派形象。 在2000年至2008年普京任職總統(tǒng)期間,隨著全球油價(jià)上漲,俄羅斯家庭收入大增,經(jīng)濟(jì)一片繁榮。普京的強(qiáng)硬講話和硬漢形象也幫助俄羅斯重樹了在國(guó)際舞臺(tái)上的自信。 有些經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家認(rèn)為,普京重返克里姆林宮后,俄羅斯將不大可能開展急需的改革措施,如退休金改革、降低自然資源依存度等。石油和天然氣出口收入占俄羅斯財(cái)政預(yù)算的一半。 但也有人稱,普京和梅德韋杰夫只是行事風(fēng)格不同,政策大同小異。 相關(guān)閱讀 普京:美國(guó)是全球經(jīng)濟(jì)的“寄生蟲” 俄發(fā)起女孩脫衣運(yùn)動(dòng)為普京大選造勢(shì) (中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Julie 編輯:馮明惠) |
Vocabulary: standing ovation: enthusiastic recognition (especially one accompanied by loud applause)(長(zhǎng)時(shí)間起立鼓掌) herald: to proclaim; announce(預(yù)示……的來臨) tandem: 一前一后 choreograph: plan and oversee the development and details of(精心編制) scuba: 自攜式水中呼吸器,水肺 judo: 柔道 wayward: resistant to guidance or discipline(任性的,倔強(qiáng)的,不服管教的) Alpha dog: 領(lǐng)頭羊,大哥,最有資歷的人 protege: 門徒,追隨者 on the back of: 緊跟著,在……之外 |