FRENCH CITIZENS OF PONDICHERRY AND THEIR RIGHTS

 [Mr. Jean-Pierre Cantegrit, receiving detailed memorandum on land-house grab of Pondicherry's French citizens by politicians in power in Pondicherry. N.Nandhivarman briefs him as Azhagiri looks on]

N.Nandhivarman French drafted men for their army from colonies, and these soldiers have sacrificed their lives fighting for France in the World War I and II. Large sections who  completed their services in French army comprise the main component of French citizens in Pondicherry. There are more than 20 million French citizens living abroad in various former French colonies including Pondicherry. It will be interesting to note that in the post-colonial period too France maintains links with these citizens in a unique fashion giving them representation. One hundred and fifty five delegates are elected by direct universal suffrage by the French communities abroad for a period of 6 years and this body is presided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France.  French citizens in America elect 32 delegates and from Africa 47 seats thus representatives from the total of “A series of constituencies” is 79. In “B series” there are 76 seats and the break up is 52 seats from Europe and from Asia-Oceania and from the Orient 24. Within these 24 seats two are chosen from Pondicherry. Half of the electoral  college is renewed every 3rd year.  All former colonies are divided into 52 electoral districts, with one or more delegates per district. A country may have several electoral districts, just as an electoral district may cover several countries. Apart from Indian elections, the regular exercise in Pondicherry is the elections  to choose 2 representatives to the “Assembly of French People Living Abroad” known  as CSFE ( Counseil Superieur des Francaise de l’Etranger). It is recently renamed as AFE from 9^th August 2004, published in Official Gazette of 11 August 2004 by the Government of France.  Lieutenant-Colonel Mouhamad Moustafa and Mr. Ejilane Souprayen were elected on 18 June 2000 for a 6 year-term for the Pondicherry constituency comprising all segments of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. The next elections will be held in 2006. It is interesting to note that both these representatives have served in the French army.

French people residing abroad through their 155 representatives elect twelve Senators to French Parliament. They get elected one-third at a time for 8 years in 2004 and for 7 years in 2007 and for 6 years from 2010. Currently the political party UMP (Union pour un mouvement populaire, which means Union for Popular Government) has 9 members thus elected. They are Mrs. Paulette Brisepierre, Mr. Jean-Pierre Cantegrit, Mr. Christian Cointat, Mr. Robert-Denis Del Picchia, Mr. Hubert Durand-Chastel, Mr. Louis Duvernois, Mr. André Ferrand, Mr. Michel Guerry, and Mr. Xavier de Villepin. Parti Socialiste has 2 Senators, Mrs Monique Cerisier Ben Guiga and Mr. Guy Penne.The party CRC (Communiste, Républicain et Citoyen) has one Senator Mr. Pierre Biarnes.Twelve personalities appointed by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs for six-year terms "by reason of their competence in matters concerning the general interests of France abroad". They are renewed one-half at a time every three years.
  

The Constitution of 27 October 1946 (IVth Republic) stipulated that the new Parliament would comprise a National Assembly and a "Council of the Republic" (as the Senate was called until 1958) within which "the French of the Exterior" would be represented. This may be like our lower and upper houses in Parliament. The National Assembly pondered and decided how to effect this representation. It decreed, in a resolution dated 13 December 1946, that three "Councillor of the Republic" seats (out of 320) would go to personalities representing Non Resident French citizens living in Europe, America and Asia-Oceania-Orient respectively.

Subsequently then Prime Minister, Robert Schuman, and his Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault signed a Decree setting up the High Council for French People residing abroad. on 7 July 1948. The first High Council was composed of 55 members and 8 ex officio members.. The first CSFE elections of 1950 were held in seventy countries of Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, according to a protocol defined in a Ministerial Decree dated 10 December 1949 and signed by Robert Schuman..

 

Article 24 of the Constitution of 25 September 1958 states, "French nationals settled outside France shall  be represented in the Senate." Two Executive Orders were issued, on 15 November 1958 and 4 February 1959 respectively, for organizing this representation and providing the CSFE with new status. The CSFE, while retaining its advisory role, became the sole electoral  college for electing Senators from abroad.

Their numbers   increased from three to six, two representing Europe and America, one representing Asia-Oceania and three representing Africa. It was thus divided into three sections for the Senatorial elections of 23 April 1959. The CSFE had 84 elected members   but it  became clear that Europe and America were under-represented in comparison with Africa.  The number of Senators was therefore brought up to nine for 1962 elections.

After the creation of the Democratic Association of French Citizens Abroad (Association Démocratique des Français à l´Etranger - ADFE) in 1980, the CSFE was reconstituted in 1982. The Act of 7 June 1982 paved way for the election by universal suffrage of Delegates to the CSFE, which (with the exception of twenty-one members chosen for their competence but not having Senatorial voting rights) was no longer a body of appointed personalities. And the election of twelve Senators thereafter is only by the elected members of the CSFE.

The AFE  is entrusted by law with the task of advising the Cabinet. The Minister of Foreign Affairs defines the objectives and priorities of the assembly chaired by him. The Senators place before the Senate, the National Assembly and the Economic and Social Council the propositions, motions, resolutions and wishes expressed by their electors. The twelve Senators, ex officio members of the AFE, can introduce Bills or legislative amendments reflecting the hopes and needs of French people living around the world.

By this unique system the ties between  French citizens living in Pondicherry and their chosen country France remains fostered conferring rights to its citizens and providing them a voice in the democratic set up.

Courtesy : New Indian Express dated : 19^th March 2005