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| Words in the News
Monday 22 April 2002
Vocabulary from the news. Listen to and read the report then find explanations of difficult words below.
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French election shock
Summary: Against all predictions the far-right candidate, Jean Marie Le Pen, has come second in the first round of the French presidential election, eliminating the Socialist Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin.
This report from Paul Anderson.
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| | The News | |
| | | Thousands of protestors took to the streets within hours of the close of polls, shocked and furious at a victory which no-one except Mr Le Pen and his supporters expected. In central Paris police used teargas to control the protestors, who threw metal barriers and smashed restaurant windows. There were similar protests in cities and towns across the country. More are planned in the two weeks before the second roundrun-off which will decide the presidency.
For the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, the defeat marks the end of his career. He announced he was quitting politics after the presidential election, leaving the Socialists without a leader just a month before elections to the National Assembly. It's part of the political devastation which France is waking up to. No-one expects Mr Le Pen to win the run-off against Mr Chirac but in many respects his battle is already won - he's put the far right at the heart of mainstream politics in this his fourth and final challenge for the presidency.
Paul Anderson. BBC, Paris
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| | The Words
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| | | took to the streets
if a crowd takes to the streets, it starts demonstrating in public places
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| | | close of polls
the time when voting stopped
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| | | teargas
a gas which causes your eyes to sting and fill with tears
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| | | More
here, further demonstrations
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| | | second round
the second part of the election, which takes place over two weeks
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| | | run-off
deciding vote
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| | | National Assembly
the French parliament
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| | | in many respects
in many ways
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| | | mainstream politics
political ideas that most people agree with
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| | | his fourth and final challenge
this is the fourth time he has tried to become President - and it will be the last
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