Because of the health situation, the first round of the French presidential election is taking place under difficult conditions for the French in China. Polling stations set up in consulates opened overnight from Saturday to Sunday, but not everywhere. In Shanghai, the 5,200 registered French people cannot vote due to the confinement imposed on China’s largest city.
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In Beijing, voting conditions are normal, at least for voters who live in the capital. Since 8 a.m. (Chinese time) this Sunday, April 10, the French have been arriving in large numbers at the two polling stations set up in the French embassy. There are nearly 1,700 registered voters, but the electoral district of Beijing is very large. It goes to the Russian border, and also includes Xinjiang, Tibet or even Inner Mongolia.
With health restrictions, it is impossible for most French people in these sectors to come to the capital to vote. Due to the epidemic, there were also no consular tours to establish powers of attorney as is usually done. Result: many are deprived of the first round and those who were able to vote this Sunday in Beijing consider themselves a little bit privileged.
“We are very lucky to vote here in Beijing. It is unexpected, when we see that other cities in China like Shanghai, do not have the opportunity to vote.”
Karine, French voter in Beijingat franceinfo
“There is something shocking to see that there are French people who probably want to vote and who do not have the ability to do so.abounds Anne. So I thought it was all the more our duty to come today and exercise this right since we have the capacity to do so. Succeeding in voting for a presidential election in China, in a country which does not have this right, is also experienced with a particular flavor by certain voters, like Maxime, relieved to have been able to express themselves despite the health context. “Being able to vote here in China is a source of pride. If I were in France, I would obviously vote, but here I am even more motivated to do so”he explains.
At the beginning of the afternoon, the participation rate exceeded 35% in the two polling stations of the French Embassy in Beijing.
#presidential2022 disrupted vote for the French in China because of health restrictions. In Beijing, the ballot was almost normal, even if some distant voters were unable to vote. Almost 30% participation at midday pic.twitter.com/V3exI8dvBX
— Seb Berriot (@SBerriot) April 10, 2022