(Montreal) European expatriates are called to vote today to elect the representatives who will sit in the European Parliament, while war is on the doorstep of the European Union.
What there is to know
- Expatriates of European origin were called on Saturday to elect their representatives to the European Parliament.
- For many voters, these elections were even more important considering the war in Ukraine and the Middle East.
- The participation rate was 17% in the last European elections in the Montreal constituency.
It was barely 8 a.m. this morning and many French expatriates were already lining up in front of the polling station set up for the occasion in the Center Mont-Royal. Identity documents in hand, some had gotten up early for fear of too much traffic.
For some, it’s the first time they’ve put a ballot in the ballot box, while for others it’s an event not to be missed.
Camille Albri is 24 years old and resides in Quebec thanks to a work permit. She wishes she could stay in Canada to settle down for good and yet the need to come and vote was obvious to her.
“It’s important because I still have family in France, so I vote for my family,” she said.
The war at the gates of the European Union
Camille Albri does not hide the fact that the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East pushed her even more to vote.
This is also the case for Serge Meyer who has lived in Canada for 50 years. Even though he is now a Canadian citizen, it was important for him to vote, especially given the current geopolitical context.
I am a child of war and I am extremely worried about what is happening in Ukraine, he said. This is one of the reasons why I get involved despite my old age.
Serge Meyer
He admits to being surprised by the large number of people who came to vote this morning. Among the crowd, several voters expressed concern about the rise of the far right in Europe.
“I think we are at a time when it is important to make your voice heard in the face of the rise of racism in France and the far right in Europe,” explains Carla Cruz, who came to vote for the first time in the elections. European.
Read “European elections: all right? »
All generations mobilized
For the Consul General of France, Marie Lapierre, the number of voters who came in the early morning seemed similar to previous years. Its consulate received a very large number of power of attorney requests this year, particularly from young expatriates.
“All generations are really very mobilized,” she says. The population we see today is not entirely representative, because we have received many proxies, the majority of which were submitted by young people. »
The participation rate was 17% in the last European elections in the Montreal constituency.
The results of the European elections will be revealed on Sunday during the day.