"Voted!": In North America, the French presidential election has already begun

"Guignol"

In the French Embassy in Washington, where she votes, the ballots in the names of the 12 candidates are carefully lined up.

After a relatively short wait, voters are redirected to four different polling stations.

A short passage in the blue, white, red voting booth, and the traditional “voted!” resounds, declaimed by embassy staff.

Many voters take a moment to photograph the tricolor flag flying on this sunny morning.

The pride of being able to participate in this great citizen exercise, despite the thousands of kilometers that separate the United States from metropolitan France, is palpable.

Even if the choice of candidates does not always arouse great enthusiasm.

A person slips his ballot into the ballot box for the French presidential election in Washington, April 9, 2022 Stefani Reynolds AFP

Frédéric Barassé, chef in Washington, expatriate for 12 years, admits having followed "the convictions of his family" in France rather than his own by slipping his ballot into the ballot box.

Another Frenchman, who came with his family, claims to have made his decision "at the time" he voted.

Queue in Montreal

In Montreal, where thousands of people crowded at 8:00 a.m., as soon as the polls opened, Esther Sei, 26, says she "took the time to read all the programs, to watch programs and in particular that of HugoDeciphers to decide".

More than 67,000 French people are registered in the French-speaking metropolis, 10,000 more than for the last presidential election.

The ballots of the twelve French presidential candidates, in Montreal, April 9, 2021 Andrej Ivanov AFP

"It's important to come to vote even as an expatriate, we can't miss that. And then it connects us to France", assures Francois-Xavier Ledieu, 40, an aeronautical engineer, behind a mask in fabric.

The voting operation takes place at the Palais des Congrès in the city to save voters a wait of several hours like 5 years ago.

But from the opening, the ground floor of this building is full to bursting, the sixty volunteers recruited by the consulate bustling to organize the queues.

Some voters wait outside the huge building that has long served as a vaccination center.

Queue in Montreal to vote in the French presidential election, April 9, 2022 Andrej Ivanov AFP

"I asked myself the question of coming because 5 years ago I had waited several hours before being able to vote", says Sarah Guerrier, who has lived in Montreal for 11 years.

But, confides this elegant woman dressed in a black jacket, "I have two children, who will perhaps study in France, so I think that for them it is important to decide who will lead France in the years to come. who come".

© 2022 AFP