就在英国紧锣密鼓地准备与欧盟展开脱欧谈判之际，英国政坛风云突起——首相特蕾莎•梅18日宣布将于6月8日提前举行大选，这一提议有待19日英国议会通过。梅政府任期原定2020年期满。此前不久，梅还一直宣称下次大选将在2020年举行。那么她为何突然改变态度？

 

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election on 8 June.
英国首相特蕾莎•梅宣布计划于6月8日提前举行大选。

 

She said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum.
她表示，英国脱欧公投后国家需要确定性、稳定性以及强有力的领导。

 

Explaining the decision, Mrs May said: "The country is coming together but Westminster is not."
梅对其决定解释道：“国家正在团结起来，但是议会并没有团结起来。”

 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party wanted the election, calling it a chance to get a government that puts "the majority first".
工党党魁杰里米•科尔宾称，工党希望进行选举，他称这是选择一个把“大多数人的利益放在首位”的政府的机会。

 

The prime minister will refuse to take part in televised leader debates ahead of the vote, Number 10 sources said.
政府知情人士称，梅在投票前将不会参加领导人电视辩论。

 

Mr Corbyn said Mrs May should not be "dodging" a head-to-head encounter.
科尔宾称，梅不应该对正面交锋“躲躲闪闪”。

 

There will be a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday to approve the election plan - the prime minister needs two thirds of MPs to vote in favour to bring forward the next scheduled election date of 2020.
下议院将在19日举行投票，批准选举计划。下届大选的原定日期为2020年，梅需要获得2/3议员的赞成票才能提前选举。

 

Explaining her change of heart on an early election, Mrs May said: "I have concluded the only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election."
梅改变主意决定提前选举，对此她解释道：“我已经断定，确保未来数年的稳定安全的唯一办法就是举行大选。”

 

She accused Britain's other political parties of "game playing", adding that this risks "our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country".
她指责英国其他政党在“玩政治游戏”，并称这将使英国“成功脱欧面临风险，还将给国家带来破坏性的动荡。”

 

"So we need a general election and we need one now. We have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin.
“所以，我们需要一场大选，而且现在就需要。因为这是我们当前的唯一机会，欧盟就其谈判立场达成一致，而进一步的细节谈判尚未开始。”

 

"I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion. Since I became prime minister I've said there should be no election until 2020, but now I have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and security for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions we must take."
“我最近不得已才作出这个决定。自从就任首相起我就说过：在2020年之前不应该举行任何大选。但现在我认为，确保未来稳定和安全的唯一方法就是举行这次选举，并在这个必要决定上寻求你们的支持。”

 

In a statement outside Number 10, Mrs May said Labour had threatened to vote against the final Brexit agreement and cited opposition to her plans from the Scottish National Party, the Lib Dems and "unelected" members of the House of Lords.
梅在唐宁街10号官邸外发表声明，称工党曾威胁要对英国脱欧的最终协议投反对票，她还列举了苏格兰民族党、自由民主党以及“未经选举产生的”其他上议院议员们对其脱欧计划的反对。

 

"If we don't hold a general election now, their political game-playing will continue and the negotiations with the European Union will reach their most difficult stage in the run-up to the next scheduled election," she said.
“如果我们不立刻进行大选，他们的政治游戏就会继续，在接下来的大选之前，与欧盟的谈判将进入最艰难的阶段。”

 

过去一世纪，英国更换了24位首相，其中有一半未经大选直接上任：

 

Senior government sources point to a specific factor that changed the prime minister's calculation on an early election.
政府高层消息人士指出，一个具体因素改变了梅的想法，让她决定提前选举。

 

The end of the likely tortuous Article 50 negotiations is a hard deadline set for March 2019.
退欧谈判可能很曲折，其截止日期设在2019年3月。

 

Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, that's when the Tories would be starting to prepare for a general election the following year, with what one cabinet minister described as certain "political needs".
根据《固定任期议会法案》，此时正是保守党开始为来年大选做准备的时候，一位内阁大臣将这些准备称为某些“政治需要”。

 

In other words, the government would be exposed to hardball from the EU because ministers would be desperate to avoid accepting anything that would be politically unpopular, or hold the Brexit process up, at the start of a crucial election cycle.
换言之，在至关重要的选举周期开始时，大臣们将竭力避免接受任何在政治上不受欢迎的事情，或者阻止退欧进程，因此欧盟将对英国政府采取强硬的态度。

 

Ministers say that's the central reason for May's change of heart because "if there was an election in three years, we'd be up against the clock".
大臣们认为，这是梅改变心意的核心原因，因为“如果在三年内举行大选的话，我们将面临时间的问题。”

 

Mr Corbyn said he welcomed the prime minister's decision, saying it would "give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first", saying that this would include dealing with "the crisis" in housing, education funding and the NHS and pushing for an "economy that works for all".
科尔宾对梅的决定表示欢迎，他称，这将“使英国人民有机会选出一个把多数人利益放在首位的政府。这些利益包括：应对住房、教育经费以及国民健康保险制度面临的“危机”，并推动“惠及所有人的经济政策”。

 

Asked if he will be the next prime minister, the Labour leader said: "If we win the election - yes - and I want to lead a government that will transform this country, give real hope to everybody and above all bring about a principle of justice for everybody and economic opportunities for everybody."
当被问及是否会成为下任首相时，科尔宾表示：“是的，如果我们赢得选举的话，我希望带领政府进行改革，给所有人真正的希望，尤其是实现公正原则，给所有英国人带来经济机会。”

 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would be fighting the election "to win".
苏格兰首席大臣尼古拉•斯特金表示，她将争取在选举中“获胜”。

 

"I think the prime minister has called this election for selfish, narrow, party political interests, but she has called it and therefore I relish the prospect of getting out to stand up for Scotland's interests and values, standing up for Scotland's voice being heard and standing against the ability of a right-wing Conservative Party to impose whatever policies it wants on Scotland."
“我认为首相举行这次选举是出于自私、狭隘的政治利益，但是她既然已经要求选举，那么我很期待站出来代表苏格兰的利益和价值，让苏格兰的声音被听到，反对右翼保守党将任何政策肆意强加于苏格兰。”

 

Mrs May spoke to the Queen on the phone on Easter Monday to let her know of the election plan, the prime minister's official spokesman said. She also got the full backing of the cabinet before calling the election.
首相官方发言人称，梅在17日复活节与女王通话，告知其选举计划。她在要求举行选举之前已经获得内阁的全力支持。

 

Former prime minister David Cameron called Theresa May's decision to hold a snap general election "brave and right".
前首相大卫•卡梅伦称提前召开大选的决定是“勇敢而明智的”。

 

British business groups gave a mixed response to the prime minister's sudden call for a general election, as the pound jumped on the news and shares fell.
首相的意外之举导致英镑上涨、股市下跌，英国商界对此反响不一。

 

European Council President Donald Tusk's spokesman said the 27 other EU states would forge ahead with Brexit, saying the UK election would not change their plans.
欧盟委员会主席唐纳德•图斯克的发言人称，其他27个欧盟国家将推动英国脱欧，英国选举不会改变他们的计划。

 

He added: "We expect to have the Brexit guidelines adopted by the European Council on 29 April and following that the Brexit negotiating directives ready on 22 May. This will allow the EU27 to start negotiations."
他还称：“我们预计欧盟委员会将于4月29号通过英国脱欧指导方针，在5月22日出台英国脱欧谈判正式方针。欧盟27个成员国此后将可以启动谈判。”

 

"I have just chaired a meeting of the cabinet, where we agreed that the government should call a general election, to be held on 8 June.
我刚刚主持了内阁会议，大家在会上一致同意，应该在6月8日举行大选。

 

"I want to explain the reasons for that decision, what will happen next and the choice facing the British people when you come to vote in this election.
我想在这里解释一下做出这一决定的原因，接下来会发生什么，以及英国民众在大选中面临的选择。

 

"Last summer, after the country voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership, and since I became prime minister the government has delivered precisely that.
去年夏天，全国公投决定离开欧盟之后，英国需要确定性、稳定性以及强有力的领导，自我成为首相以来，我们的政府都做到了。

 

"Despite predictions of immediate financial and economic danger, since the referendum we have seen consumer confidence remain high, record numbers of jobs, and economic growth that has exceeded all expectations.
虽然有预测称我们会面临金融和经济风险，但自从公投以来，我们看到消费者信心持续高涨，就业数量创了记录，经济增长超出了所有人的预期。

 

"We have also delivered on the mandate that we were handed by the referendum result. Britain is leaving the European Union and there can be no turning back.
我们也按照公投的结果履行了应尽的职责。英国要离开欧盟，不会回头。

 

"And as we look to the future, the Government has the right plan for negotiating our new relationship with Europe.
展望未来，政府在商讨英国与欧洲的新关系方面已经有了适当的方案。

 

"We want a deep and special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and a United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world.
我们想要在强大并卓有成就的欧盟以及自由发展的英国之间建立一个深入的、特别的伙伴关系。

 

"That means we will regain control of our own money, our own laws and our own borders and we will be free to strike trade deals with old friends and new partners all around the world.
这意味着我们将重新获得对我们的货币、法律以及边境的控制权，我们也可以按照自己的意愿与世界各地的老朋友、新伙伴签订贸易协定。

 

"This is the right approach, and it is in the national interest. But the other political parties oppose it.
这是正确的选择，也符合国家利益，但是其他的政党反对这样做。

 

"At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division. The country is coming together, but Westminster is not.
在这样一个对国家来说意义重大的时刻，议会应该团结一致，可我们只有分歧。整个国家都在一起努力，可议会并没有在努力。

 

"In recent weeks Labour has threatened to vote against the final agreement we reach with the European Union. The Liberal Democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standstill.
最近几周，工党威胁说要为我们跟欧盟达成的协议投反对票，自由民主党说要让政府事务陷入瘫痪。

 

"The Scottish National Party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals Britain's membership of the European Union. And unelected members of the House of Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way.
苏格兰民族党说他们要投票废除能够正式撤销英国欧盟成员国身份的法律。未经选举产生的上议院议员声称要步步与我们作对。

 

"Our opponents believe because the government's majority is so small, that our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change course. They are wrong.
我们的对手认为，政府所占的多数席位太少，所以，我们的决心会被削弱，他们可以强迫我们改变计划。他们错了。

 

"They underestimate our determination to get the job done and I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of working people across the country.
他们低估了我们完成这项工作的决心，我也没打算让他们危及全国数百万工作民众的安全。

 

"Because what they are doing jeopardises the work we must do to prepare for Brexit at home and it weakens the government's negotiating position in Europe.
因为他们的所作所为损害了我们在国内必须进行的脱欧准备工作，削弱了政府在欧洲的谈判立场。

 

"If we do not hold a general election now their political game-playing will continue, and the negotiations with the European Union will reach their most difficult stage in the run-up to the next scheduled election.
如果我们现在不举行大选，他们的政治游戏还会继续，在下一次预定的大选到来之前，我们跟欧盟的谈判会进入最艰难的阶段。

 

"Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country.
议会内部的分裂会使我们成功脱欧面临风险，还会给我们的国家带来破坏性的不确定和不稳定状态。

 

"So we need a general election and we need one now, because we have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin.
所以，我们需要一次大选，而且现在就要举行。因为这是我们当前的唯一机会，欧盟就其谈判立场达成一致，而进一步的细节谈判尚未开始。

 

"I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion. Since I became prime minister I have said that there should be no election until 2020, but now I have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and stability for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions I must take.
我也是最近才很不情愿地做出这个决定。我担任首相以后曾经说过，2020年之前不会举行大选。可是现在，我发现确保未来几年确定和稳定状态的唯一方法就是举行大选，寻求你们对我必须做出的决策的支持。

 

"And so tomorrow I will move a motion in the House of Commons calling for a general election to be held on 8 June. That motion, as set out by the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, will require a two-thirds majority of the House of Commons.
因此，我明天会向下议院提交动议，提议在6月8日举行大选。按照《英国议会固定任期法案》的规定，该动议需要在下议院获得三分之二的多数票才能通过。

 

"So I have a simple challenge to the opposition parties, you have criticised the government's vision for Brexit, you have challenged our objectives, you have threatened to block the legislation we put before Parliament.
我这里向各反对党提出一个简单的挑战，你们批评政府脱欧的计划，挑战我们的目标，还威胁要阻止我们向议会提交的法案。

 

"This is your moment to show you mean it, to show you are not opposing the government for the sake of it, to show that you do not treat politics as a game.
现在是时候让大家知道，你们是认真的，你们不是为了反对政府而反对政府，你们并没有把政治当游戏。

 

"Let us tomorrow vote for an election, let us put forward our plans for Brexit and our alternative programmes for government and then let the people decide.
明天，让我们为大选投票表态，把我们的脱欧计划和政府的替代方案拿出来，让人民做决定。

 

"And the decision facing the country will be all about leadership. It will be a choice between strong and stable leadership in the national interest, with me as your prime minister, or weak and unstable coalition government, led by Jeremy Corbyn, propped up by the Liberal Democrats, who want to reopen the divisions of the referendum, and Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP.
整个国家面临的抉择主要是关于领导力。以我本人为首相、符合国民利益的强大稳定领导集体，自由民主党牵头、以杰里米•科尔宾为首的软弱又缺乏稳定性、想要重新回到公投分裂局面的联合政府，以及苏格兰民族党的尼古拉-斯特金，人们需要在这当中做出选择。

 

"Every vote for the Conservatives will make it harder for opposition politicians who want to stop me from getting the job done.
投给保守党的每一票都会让想要阻止我完成脱欧工作的反对党更难得逞。

 

"Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger when I negotiate for Britain with the prime ministers, presidents and chancellors of the European Union.
投给保守党的每一票都会让我在与欧盟各国首相、总统以及总理大臣们谈判时更强大。

 

"Every vote for the Conservatives means we can stick to our plan for a stronger Britain and take the right long-term decisions for a more secure future.
投给保守党的每一票都意味着我们能坚持建立一个更强大英国的计划，为一个更稳健的未来做出正确的长期抉择。

 

"It was with reluctance that I decided the country needs this election, but it is with strong conviction that I say it is necessary to secure the strong and stable leadership the country needs to see us through Brexit and beyond.
我做出举行大选的决定是不情愿的，但是我坚信这是确保我国在强大稳定的领导之下完成脱欧进程并进入下一阶段发展的必要手段。

 

"So, tomorrow, let the House of Commons vote for an election, let everybody put forward their proposals for Brexit and their programmes for government, and let us remove the risk of uncertainty and instability and continue to give the country the strong and stable leadership it demands."
所以，明天，就让下议院为大选进行表决吧，大家都把自己的脱欧方案和执政方案拿出来，让我们消除不确定性和不稳定性的风险，继续给我们国家一个它急需的强大又稳定的领导集体。