French living abroad will elect their own officials
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | 1:35 PM ET
CBC News
French citizens living in Canada will elect their own deputy in France's National Assembly during the country's next general election.
Several "deputes des Francais de l'étranger," or Foreign French national deputies, will be elected in 2012, under a new constitutional amendment modernizing France's public institutions.
It affects more than 2.4 million French foreign nationals, including about 200,000 in Quebec and 40,000 in Montreal.
French officials formally adopted the law Monday, making it possible for French citizens living abroad to have their own representation at the National Assembly.
The law allows for two or three deputies to be elected across North America.
The amendment will also give French citizens more say in issues such as education, citizenship and lawmaking.
French citizens who live outside of the country are already represented by 12 senators, but until now had no officials at the National Assembly.
Foreign ridings will be determined by another law in the works.
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