The constituencies for French residents overseas are eleven French constituencies, each electing one representative to the National Assembly.
They were French citizens overseas (Français établis hors de France) to be represented as such, rather than vote in a constituency on French territory, as was the case previously. Their creation does not increase the overall number of seats in the Assembly, which remains stable at 577, since it is compensated for by a redrawing of boundaries which reduces the all French Senators, they are elected indirectly, by the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad number of seats in France itself to 566.
The creation of these constituencies created some controversy, when Le Monde estimated that they would be far more favourable to the main centre-right party, the Union for a Popular Movement, then in power, than to the main centre-left party, the Socialist Party. The newspaper pointed out that, in nine of these constituencies, a majority of voters appeared to favour the right, based on the figures from the 2007 French presidential election. The constituency of Central and Eastern Europe and that of North-West Africa were the only ones to appear left-leaning.[5] While Le Monde provided the figures without comment, left-wing politicians such as Socialist MP Jean-Jacques Urvoas suggested that the government was attempting to provide itself with extra seats, and Communist MP Jean-Paul Lecoq suggested overseas citizens should continue to vote solely in French constituencies.[6]
In all, the Americas are divided into two constituencies, North and South (1 & 2); Europe into six (3 to 8), with the eighth constituency also incorporating Israel; and Africa into two (9 & 10), with the tenth constituency also incorporating the Arabian peninsula as well as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. The eleventh constituency, the largest, includes every other country in Asia, as well as the entirety of Oceania, along with Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Overseas departments and territories of France are not included, as they are de jure part of France, and already have their own electoral constituencies. In addition, North Korea, which is not diplomatically recognised by France, is not part of any constituency. The same is true of Bhutan. Kosovo, which is recognised by France, is part of the seventh constituency. Taiwan is incorporated into the eleventh constituency as part of China, as France recognises the One China policy. Western Sahara is not part of any constituency - being neither recognised as part of Morocco, nor included in the ninth constituency in its own right. Other self-proclaimed and de facto but non-recognised independent countries, such as Somaliland or Abkhazia, are incorporated as part of the country which claims sovereignty over them.[7]
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List of constituencies
Constituency Region Number of countries included (as recognised by France) ...
First Canada and United States [2 ] to be determined - - 2012
Second Central America, Caribbean and South America [33] to be determined - - 2012
Third Northern Europe [10] to be determined - - 2012
Fourth Benelux [3] to be determined - - 2012
Fifth Andorra, Monaco, Portugal and Spain [4] to be determined - - 2012
Sixth Liechtenstein and Switzerland [2] to be determined - - 2012
Seventh Central and Eastern Europe 16 (including Kosovo) to be determined - - 2012
Eighth Southern Europe and Israel [8]to be determined - - 2012
Ninth North-west Africa [16] to be determined - - 2012
Tenth Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, much of the Middle East [48]forty-eight to be determined - - 2012
Eleventh Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Oceania, most of Asia [ 49 forty-nine]to be determined - - 2012
SOCIALIST PARTY, the RULING PARTY OF FRANCE, and UMP, the Opposition Party of France have announced their candidates. DRAVIDA PERAVAI urges Puducherry French citizens to VOTE for SOCIALIST PARTY CANDIDATE.
We appeal NOT TO VOTE TO INDEPENDENTS like : http://augustinbenoit.com/
Mr.AUGUSTIN BENOIT, our old college mate who had through following website solicites votes. I met him after 40 years of break and suggested him initially, but within weeks moving with him I found he is not honest but indulges in self boast, and tries to fool his own friends. None of us are supporting him. Supporting Independents are waste in any democracy. So my appeal to voters of 11 th constituency of the French National Assembly in Puducherry either to vote to ruling party or opposition party. A defeat here only will make independents seeking greener pastures here confining themselves retirement in public life.
2012
The 2012 legislative election, will result in the election of the very first National Assembly members representing French residents overseas.
Voting occurs over a week, from 23 to 29 May for the first round, well in advance of voting in metropolitan France (10 June) or certain French overseas territories and departments (9 June). Second round voting will occur from 6 to 12 June (as opposed to 17 June in metropolitan France). Unlike their compatriots in France itself, expatriates may vote by postal ballot or over the Internet, though they may of course vote in person in their local consulate.[8]
In April 2011, the ruling Union for a Popular Movement chose several prominent members to stand as candidates overseas. Thus, Frédéric Lefebvre, Secretary of State for Commerce, was chosen as UMP candidate for the First constituency; Éric Besson, Minister of Industry, for the Fifth; and Thierry Mariani, Secretary of State for Transport, for the Eleventh.[9]
By contrast, the Socialist Party has preferred to select long-term residents of their respective constituencies, who are active in their local community but generally unknown in national French politics.[10]
Numerous other parties are presenting candidates, in particular the MoDem and the Left Front. Many independent candidates are also present in all consistencies.
