for the first time in 24 years, the french have elected a socialist, françois hollande, as their next president. according to exit polls published at 8pm paris time on sunday evening, mr hollande secured a convincing 52% of the vote, giving him the majority he needs to unseat the incumbent president, nicolas sarkozy.
24年来法国第一次选出一名社会党人，弗朗索瓦·奥朗德（françois hollande），作为其下一任总统。根据巴黎时间星期天晚上8时发布的选后民调，奥朗德获得52%的选票，这个过半数的结果足于让他把现任总统尼古拉斯·萨科齐（nicolas sarkozy）拉下马。
the result was in line with polls throughout the election campaign. alhough the final result was closer than many had predicted until the closing days, it was a solid victory, if not quite as good as the 53% that mr sarkozy won in 2007. based on a high voter turn-out, it hands mr hollande a clear mandate. he will become only the second socialist president, after françois mitterrand, under the fifth republic.
这个结果符合贯穿整个竞选活动的民调。尽管这个最终结果比许多民调直到选举结束一直预测的都要接近，这是一次坚实的胜利，只不过其得票率没有超过萨科齐2007年所赢得的53%。基于这次选举的高投票率，这赋于了奥朗德一个明确的授权。他将继弗朗索瓦·密特朗（françois mitterrand）之后，成为法兰西第五共和国仅有的两位社会党总统之一。
even before the results were declared, there was evidence of victory preparations in paris. barricades and mobile mini-cranes could be seen earlier in the day at the place de la bastille, where mr hollande is expected to speak to tens of thousands of jubilant supporters later this evening. he spent the day (and voted) in corrèze, in rural france, where he presides over the departmental council.
早在结果公布前，巴黎已有胜选庆祝筹备的迹象，选举当天早些时候路障和移动小型吊车出现在巴士底广场（place de la bastille） ，而奥朗德预计当晚迟些时候将在此对数以万计欢欣鼓舞的支持者发表演讲。身为科雷兹省地区议会主席，他当天是在科雷兹省（corrèze）度过的（并在该省投票）。
the result was as symbolic for the right as it was for the left. mr sarkozy enters the history books as only the second president, after valéry giscard d’estaing, in 1981, to fail to win a re-election bid under the fifth republic. his last-minute chase for the far-right vote of marine le pen, with talk of “too many immigrants”, helped him to narrow the gap. but it was deeply distasteful to many others, and not enough to make a difference.
这一结果无论对于右派还是左派都是一个重要标志。萨科齐作为继瓦勒里·季斯卡·德斯坦（valéry giscard d’estaing）在1981败选后仅有的两位在第两轮决胜选举中落败的法兰西第五共和国总统之一被写入历史。他在竞选最后阶段以“过多移民”的言论笼络玛丽娜·勒庞（marine le pen）的极右派选票，这有助于令他缩小差距。但这些言论令其余许多群体大为反感，而且也不足于扭转形势。
despite throwing himself into a vigorous campaign, mr sarkozy failed to persuade enough voters that the inexperienced mr hollande did not have what it takes to be president—or to overcome a prevailing desire in france for change. his defeat now opens a new chapter on the political right, with an ensuing succession battle that could be bloody.
尽管竭尽全力投身于一场激烈选战中，萨科齐未能说服足够的选民相信，缺乏经验的奥朗德不是块做总统的料——即不能实现法国要求改变的主流愿望。现在随着接踵而至的可能是血腥的后继战役，他的落败打开了右翼政治派别的新篇章。
mr hollande’s first task will be to name a prime minister, which he has refused to do during the campaign. jean-marc ayrault, the 60-year-old leader of the socialist parliamentary group is a front-runner, as he is both a loyal party stalwart and has good links to germany. the other favourite, whose nomination would send a stronger signal to the left, is martine aubry, the mayor of lille, and one-time architect of france’s 35-hour working week.
奥朗德的第一个任务将是提名总理，这是他在竞选活动中拒绝讨论的。60岁的社会党党团领导人让-马克·埃罗（jean-marc ayrault）是首要候选者，因为他既是一名忠诚的党内中坚人物也与德国关系良好。而另一位被看好的候选者是里尔市市长，每周35小时工作制的发起人马汀娜·奥布里（martine aubry），她的提名将会对左派发送一个更加积极的信号。
mr hollande’s other concern will be to build trust with angela merkel, the german chancellor, who backed mr sarkozy for president. mr hollande has said clearly that he wants to “renegotiate” europe’s fiscal pact, which she considers the cornerstone of stability in the euro zone, in order to emphasise growth over austerity.
奥朗德的另一项使命是与支持萨科齐成为总统的德国总理安吉拉·默克尔（angela merkel）建立信任。奥朗德一直明确表示，他打算“重新商讨”默克尔视为欧元区稳定基石的欧洲金融协议，目的是强调增长重于紧缩.
but mr hollande will want to reassure her of his faith in the franco-german tie (mr hollande’s mentor is jacques delors, ms aubry’s father and the champion of european integration). mr ayrault suggested earlier today that mr hollande may call ms merkel this evening. the president-elect, who must be inaugurated before may 16th, has a hectic international diary ahead.
然而奥朗德将要让她确信他对于法德关系的信心（奥朗德的导师是雅克·德洛尔（jacques delors），奥布里的父亲及欧洲一体化的拥护者）。今天早些时候埃罗暗示奥朗德可能在当晚致电默克尔。当选总统必定于5月16日前正式就任，摆在他前面的将是繁忙的国际议事日程。
tonight, though, after a 17-year wait, and as huge chanting crowds pour on to the streets in paris, the socialists are simply relishing the thrill of presidential victory.
然而，今晚，在17年的漫长等待之后，并在高呼口号的宠大人群涌上巴黎街头的此刻，社会党人将只须尽情享受总统竞选大获全胜的狂喜