Due to impressive queues, the French expatriates are the crane foot, Saturday, at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, to vote in the first round of the presidential election.
Posted at 12:36 p.m.
In the rain, the line of French citizens getting ready to vote goes around the building. Some voters claimed to The Press waited over an hour. “The organization here is lamentable every time,” says Frédéric Desbouis. The resident of Bois-des-Filion says he waited more than 4 hours to vote in Montreal during the 2017 elections. “We feel like bullocks,” he jokes.
Melissa Bensiali walks through the door with her sister, Nelly Bensiali, who is pregnant. “We always feel attached to France, we remain French,” says Mélissa. We don’t want Marine Le Pen in the second round. The rise of the far right in Europe worries him “tremendously”. For Nelly, it is “important to give your opinion, even if what you want is not like the majority”.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Melissa and Nelly Bensiali
The French must make their choice between 12 candidates. The ballot promises to be tight between Emmanuel Macron, the outgoing president, and Marine Le Pen, at the head of the National Rally.
Polling stations in Montreal will be open until 7 p.m. Saturday evening. In Outaouais, voters must go to the polling station located at the Lycée Claudel in Ottawa.
The French of Montreal will be able to vote in the second round on April 23.