Assembly of the French People residing abroad
The
Assembly of the French People residing abroad (AFE) is composed of Members
elected directly by the French People residing abroad. Its members, the elected
representatives, are entrusted with the task of helping the French People
residing abroad and defending their rights and interests — especially as
regards social protection, security, study grants, employment and vocational
training — when dealing with public services.
French
people living abroad — 1 960 000 — form
an important population sub-group, as large as the population of the Department
of Bouches-du-Rhône or of the four Overseas Departments taken together.
The AFE is the representative assembly of these French people settled abroad. Its aim is to enable them to take part in the life of the nation and make themselves heard, despite the distance separating them from France. Delegates to the AFE represent these French People residing abroad in official bodies and defend their interests.
The AFE is the representative assembly of these French people settled abroad. Its aim is to enable them to take part in the life of the nation and make themselves heard, despite the distance separating them from France. Delegates to the AFE represent these French People residing abroad in official bodies and defend their interests.
I. Background
The
political representation of French People living abroad, whether in the former
colonies or foreign countries, is a problem as old as the representation of
metropolitan French citizens. The issue of citizenship arose as far back as the
convening of the Estates General in 1789 when the validity of the 17 elected,
appointed or self-proclaimed deputies from abroad was examined.
The Constitution of 27 October 1946 (IVth Republic) stipulated that the new Parliament would comprise a National Assembly and a "Council of the Republic" (as the Senate was named until 1958) within which "the French of the exterior" would be represented. The National Assembly had the task of deciding what shape this representation would take. It decreed, in a resolution dated 13 December 1946, that three "Councillor of the Republic" seats (out of 320) would go to personalities representing our compatriots living in Europe, America and Asia-Oceania respectively. Special provisions accorded a large place to elected officials from the colonies and French protectorates in Africa.
French People residing abroad had, in addition, been represented in Paris, for twenty or more years, by four important bodies grouping the active elements of France´s presence abroad. They were: the Union of French Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the French Overseas Teachers Association, the Non-Resident French War Veterans Federation, and the Overseas French Union (Union des Français de l´étranger, UFE), founded in 1927. The four bodies claimed the right, at least, to present their National Assembly candidates at the time Councillors of the Republic were designated, and asked in particular that French citizens genuinely living abroad be able to make their voices heard. They suggested, therefore, that a "high council", made up mostly of overseas French elected officials, be created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This claim was favourably received by the then Prime Minister, Robert Schuman, and his Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault. On 7 July 1948, they signed a Decree setting up the High Council for French People residing abroad.
The Constitution of 27 October 1946 (IVth Republic) stipulated that the new Parliament would comprise a National Assembly and a "Council of the Republic" (as the Senate was named until 1958) within which "the French of the exterior" would be represented. The National Assembly had the task of deciding what shape this representation would take. It decreed, in a resolution dated 13 December 1946, that three "Councillor of the Republic" seats (out of 320) would go to personalities representing our compatriots living in Europe, America and Asia-Oceania respectively. Special provisions accorded a large place to elected officials from the colonies and French protectorates in Africa.
French People residing abroad had, in addition, been represented in Paris, for twenty or more years, by four important bodies grouping the active elements of France´s presence abroad. They were: the Union of French Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the French Overseas Teachers Association, the Non-Resident French War Veterans Federation, and the Overseas French Union (Union des Français de l´étranger, UFE), founded in 1927. The four bodies claimed the right, at least, to present their National Assembly candidates at the time Councillors of the Republic were designated, and asked in particular that French citizens genuinely living abroad be able to make their voices heard. They suggested, therefore, that a "high council", made up mostly of overseas French elected officials, be created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This claim was favourably received by the then Prime Minister, Robert Schuman, and his Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault. On 7 July 1948, they signed a Decree setting up the High Council for French People residing abroad.
The first High Council was composed of 55 members: 8 ex officio members (the three Senator-Councillors of the Republic, the president and director of the UFE, the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, of the Teachers Association and of the Veterans Federation), 42 elected officials, and 5 members nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "chosen from among French personalities with recognised competence in matters concerning the general interests of France abroad".
In Spring 1950, the first CSFE elections were held in seventy countries of Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, according to a protocol defined in a Ministerial Decree dated 10 December 1949 and signed by Robert Schuman. Two ideas lay at the heart of the Decree: first, to gain a more accurate notion of our compatriots´ identity by requiring them to register in their Consulates; second, to encourage them to rally together by inducing them to join an association or French "body" and so obtain voting rights. These two conditions and the electoral system introduced remained in force until 1982.
The elections took place in two stages. Within the associations, each recognised body appointed delegates as follows one for under 50 members; two for 50-100 members; one more for every hundred and fraction of a hundred members. The electoral college so constituted then elected one or more representatives to the CSFE using the same procedure as the Senatorial colleges in France: direct majority in the first round, plurality in the second.
Article
24 of the Constitution of 25 September 1958 states, "French nationals
settled outside France shall be represented in the Senate." Two Executive
Orders were issued, on 15 November 1958 and 4 February 1959 respectively, for
organising this representation and providing the CSFE with new statutes. The
CSFE, while retaining its advisory role, became the sole electoral college for
electing Senators from abroad. Their number was increased from three to six,
two representing Europe and America, one representing Asia-Oceania and three
representing Africa, which made its entry into the CSFE. It was thus divided
into three sections for the Senatorial elections of 23 April 1959. The CSFE had
84 elected members at the time, but it had become clear that Europe and America
were under-represented by comparison with Africa. For the 1962 elections, the
number of Senators was therefore brought up to nine.
In 1982, after the creation of the Democratic Association of French Citizens Abroad (Association Démocratique des Français à l´Etranger - ADFE) in 1980, the CSFE was reconstituted. The Act of 7 June 1982 instituted the election by universal suffrage of Delegates to the CSFE, which (with the exception of twenty-one members chosen for their competence but not having Senatorial voting rights) was no longer composed of appointed personalities, and the election of twelve Senators by the elected members only of the CSFE.
In 1982, after the creation of the Democratic Association of French Citizens Abroad (Association Démocratique des Français à l´Etranger - ADFE) in 1980, the CSFE was reconstituted. The Act of 7 June 1982 instituted the election by universal suffrage of Delegates to the CSFE, which (with the exception of twenty-one members chosen for their competence but not having Senatorial voting rights) was no longer composed of appointed personalities, and the election of twelve Senators by the elected members only of the CSFE.
The CSFE is replaced by the AFE by the law 9th August 2004, published in a Official gazette dated 11 August 2004.
3. NANDHIVARMAN, Chairman Dravida Peravai / FREDERIC Noé, Alternative Member of the Assembly for French People Residing abroad / MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA, Member of the Assembly for French People Residing abroad / Gengy Ramachandiran, Minister Government of India / x ? : Pondicherry 2000
II. Organisation
. A. Composition of the AFE
The
AFE, presided over ex officio by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is composed
of:
1. One hundred and fifty five members (Delegates or Councillors) elected by direct universal suffrage by the French communities abroad. All registered French people residing abroad, except those who expressly refuse, automatically figure on the AFE voting centre lists.
Delegates are elected for a six-year term. Half of the electoral college is renewed every three years. Series A (79 seats) comprises the circumscriptions of America (32 Delegates) and Africa (47 Delegates); series B (76 seats) the circumscriptions of Europe (52 Delegates), Asia-Oceania and the Levant (24 Delegates: Lieutenant-colonel MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA and Mr EJILANE Souprayen were elected on 18 June 2000 for a 6 year-term for the Pondicherry constituency which covers Tamil Naud, Kerala and the Union Territory of Pondicherry). The next elections will be held in 2006 for series B, and in 2009 for series A.
There are 52 electoral districts, with one or more Delegates per district. A country may have several electoral districts, just as an electoral district may cover several countries. The Act lays down the number of seats per electoral district and names its chief town.
2. Twelve Senators representing French People residing abroad, elected one-third at a time for 8 years in 2004 (and for 7 years in 2007 and for 6 years from de 2010), by the 155 members elected of AFE. After the last election of 23 september 2001, we have currently:
- 9 UMP (Union pour un mouvement populaire, Union for a popular movement) : Mrs Paulette BRISEPIERRE, Mr. Jean-Pierre CANTEGRIT, Mr. Christian COINTAT, Mr. Robert-Denis DEL PICCHIA, Mr. Hubert DURAND-CHASTEL, Mr. Louis DUVERNOIS, Mr. André FERRAND, Mr. Michel GUERRY, Mr. Xavier de VILLEPIN.
- 2 PS (Parti socialiste, Socialist Party) : Mrs Monique CERISIER Ben GUIGA, Mr. Guy PENNE.
- 1 CRC (Communiste, Républicain et Citoyen, Communist, Republican and Citizen) : Mr. Pierre BIARNES.
3. Twelve personalities appointed by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs for six-year terms "by reason of their competence in matters concerning the general interests of France abroad". They are renewed one-half at a time every three years.
1. One hundred and fifty five members (Delegates or Councillors) elected by direct universal suffrage by the French communities abroad. All registered French people residing abroad, except those who expressly refuse, automatically figure on the AFE voting centre lists.
Delegates are elected for a six-year term. Half of the electoral college is renewed every three years. Series A (79 seats) comprises the circumscriptions of America (32 Delegates) and Africa (47 Delegates); series B (76 seats) the circumscriptions of Europe (52 Delegates), Asia-Oceania and the Levant (24 Delegates: Lieutenant-colonel MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA and Mr EJILANE Souprayen were elected on 18 June 2000 for a 6 year-term for the Pondicherry constituency which covers Tamil Naud, Kerala and the Union Territory of Pondicherry). The next elections will be held in 2006 for series B, and in 2009 for series A.
There are 52 electoral districts, with one or more Delegates per district. A country may have several electoral districts, just as an electoral district may cover several countries. The Act lays down the number of seats per electoral district and names its chief town.
2. Twelve Senators representing French People residing abroad, elected one-third at a time for 8 years in 2004 (and for 7 years in 2007 and for 6 years from de 2010), by the 155 members elected of AFE. After the last election of 23 september 2001, we have currently:
- 9 UMP (Union pour un mouvement populaire, Union for a popular movement) : Mrs Paulette BRISEPIERRE, Mr. Jean-Pierre CANTEGRIT, Mr. Christian COINTAT, Mr. Robert-Denis DEL PICCHIA, Mr. Hubert DURAND-CHASTEL, Mr. Louis DUVERNOIS, Mr. André FERRAND, Mr. Michel GUERRY, Mr. Xavier de VILLEPIN.
- 2 PS (Parti socialiste, Socialist Party) : Mrs Monique CERISIER Ben GUIGA, Mr. Guy PENNE.
- 1 CRC (Communiste, Républicain et Citoyen, Communist, Republican and Citizen) : Mr. Pierre BIARNES.
3. Twelve personalities appointed by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs for six-year terms "by reason of their competence in matters concerning the general interests of France abroad". They are renewed one-half at a time every three years.
. B. Structure of the AFE
President:
The AFE is entrusted by law with the task of advising the Cabinet. The Minister
of Foreign Affairs defines the objectives and priorities of the assembly which
he chairs.
Vice-Presidents: The President is flanked by three Vice-Presidents elected by the plenary assembly. The first among them coordinates the college which they form. The mission assigned to the college of Vice-Presidents is one of reflection, proposition, organisation and communication.
The Senators transmit to the Senate, the National Assembly and the Economic and Social Council the propositions, motions, resolutions and wishes expressed. The twelve Senators, ex officio members of the AFE, can introduce Bills or legislative amendments reflecting the hopes and needs of French people living around the world.
The primary role of the elected councillors is to represent French People residing abroad. The councillors´ knowledge of local conditions provides the whole Council with the information needed for it to carry out its task.
The appointed councillors are designated by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on the basis of their particular qualifications.
The members of the Council may form political groups. At present, there are three of these: UFE (Union of the French Peopole residing abroad 89 Members), ADFE (Democratic association of French People residing abroad 57 members) and RFE (Rassemblement des Français de l´étranger = Rallly for the French People residing abroad 32 members. A minimum of 18 members is required to form a group.
Vice-Presidents: The President is flanked by three Vice-Presidents elected by the plenary assembly. The first among them coordinates the college which they form. The mission assigned to the college of Vice-Presidents is one of reflection, proposition, organisation and communication.
The Senators transmit to the Senate, the National Assembly and the Economic and Social Council the propositions, motions, resolutions and wishes expressed. The twelve Senators, ex officio members of the AFE, can introduce Bills or legislative amendments reflecting the hopes and needs of French people living around the world.
The primary role of the elected councillors is to represent French People residing abroad. The councillors´ knowledge of local conditions provides the whole Council with the information needed for it to carry out its task.
The appointed councillors are designated by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on the basis of their particular qualifications.
The members of the Council may form political groups. At present, there are three of these: UFE (Union of the French Peopole residing abroad 89 Members), ADFE (Democratic association of French People residing abroad 57 members) and RFE (Rassemblement des Français de l´étranger = Rallly for the French People residing abroad 32 members. A minimum of 18 members is required to form a group.
UFE and RFE is united under the name of Intergroupe
UMP in the AFE.
. C. Bodies of the AFE
The
college of Vice-Presidents (or conference of Vice-Presidents) enacts the work
of the Council and reports back to the President.
The plenary assembly, attended by the ex officio members, the appointed members and the elected members, meets once a year in Paris at the beginning of September.
The plenary assembly, attended by the ex officio members, the appointed members and the elected members, meets once a year in Paris at the beginning of September.
Members
are divided among specialised committees which prepare reports for submission
to the plenary assembly. It is compulsory for each member to belong to a
standing committee, and one only. There are at present five standing
committees:
- the cultural affairs and education committee (39 members)
- the social affairs committee (39 members)
- the finance and economic affairs committee (39 members including Mr M. EJILANE Souprayen)
- the law and rules committee [39 including Lieutenant-colonel (H) MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA]
- the European Union committee (27 members)
- the cultural affairs and education committee (39 members)
- the social affairs committee (39 members)
- the finance and economic affairs committee (39 members including Mr M. EJILANE Souprayen)
- the law and rules committee [39 including Lieutenant-colonel (H) MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA]
- the European Union committee (27 members)
The
AFE also has lighter structures with limited life spans which are easily
mobilised according to the needs of the moment. This is the case with the
temporary committees, currently three in number:
- the war veterans temporary committee [created in 1991, 32 members including Lieutenant-colonel (H) MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA]
- the temporary committte for decentralization applied to the French People residing abroad (created in 2003, 27 members)
- the war veterans temporary committee [created in 1991, 32 members including Lieutenant-colonel (H) MOUHAMAD MOUSTAFA]
- the temporary committte for decentralization applied to the French People residing abroad (created in 2003, 27 members)
- the temporary committee for professional training for French
People residing abroad (created o, 2003, 27 members)
Each
permanent committee has a chairman, two deputy Chairmen, a Secretary and a Rapporteur.
Ad hoc working groups can be formed as the need arises.
Ad hoc working groups can be formed as the need arises.
The bureau, made up of :
-
the Chairman (Minister for Foreign affairs)
-
three Deputy-chairmen of the AFE
-
the Chairmen, the Deputy-chairmen (2 by Committee), Secretaries, Rapporteurs of
the permanent committees
-
the Chairmen of the three groups
elected for three years during the renewal of the Assembly, ensures working continuity between sessions. It meets four times a year, usually in February, May, September and December.
elected for three years during the renewal of the Assembly, ensures working continuity between sessions. It meets four times a year, usually in February, May, September and December.
III. Role of AFE members
A.
The AFE exercises real political authority at the moment when Senators
representing French people abroad are elected.
B. Elected AFE members can sponsor a candidate for the French presidential elections.
C. The AFE is "called upon to give the Cabinet opinions on matters and projects of concern to French People residing abroad, and on developing France´s presence abroad". They are not prior opinions, however. The AFE could rather be said to fulfil the role of a specialised Economic and Social Council. The Cabinet may consult it, or it may intervene at its own initiative. AFE members, as elected representatives of the various French communities abroad, are concerned to defend the interests of French People residing abroad. They study matters relating to the education of French people abroad, their rights, their social situation, their economic and taxation problems. They express wishes, issue opinions and submit motions for guiding government action. At plenary assembly and permanent bureau meetings, they solicit the government´s attention through written and oral questions.
The AFE may use background studies to inform the French authorities on specific problems (education, law, social affairs, foreign trade, taxation, etc.) affecting the interests of French People residing abroad).
D. Representation at national level
AFE members elect two persons representing the French abroad to the Economic and Social Council. They choose from among themselves five administrators for the Caisse des Français de l´étranger (Social Security Fund for French People residing abroad) and fifteen administrators to represent persons insured with the Fund.
They have seats also in numerous other public bodies:
— 1 representative on the board of administration of the Agence pour l´enseignement français à l´étranger - AEFE (Agency for French Teaching Abroad)
— 2 representatives on the Commission nationale des bourses (National Study Grants Commission)
— 2 representatives on the Standing Committee for Employment and Vocational Training for French People residing abroad
— 1 representative on the Conseil national de l´aide juridique (National Legal Aid Council)
B. Elected AFE members can sponsor a candidate for the French presidential elections.
C. The AFE is "called upon to give the Cabinet opinions on matters and projects of concern to French People residing abroad, and on developing France´s presence abroad". They are not prior opinions, however. The AFE could rather be said to fulfil the role of a specialised Economic and Social Council. The Cabinet may consult it, or it may intervene at its own initiative. AFE members, as elected representatives of the various French communities abroad, are concerned to defend the interests of French People residing abroad. They study matters relating to the education of French people abroad, their rights, their social situation, their economic and taxation problems. They express wishes, issue opinions and submit motions for guiding government action. At plenary assembly and permanent bureau meetings, they solicit the government´s attention through written and oral questions.
The AFE may use background studies to inform the French authorities on specific problems (education, law, social affairs, foreign trade, taxation, etc.) affecting the interests of French People residing abroad).
D. Representation at national level
AFE members elect two persons representing the French abroad to the Economic and Social Council. They choose from among themselves five administrators for the Caisse des Français de l´étranger (Social Security Fund for French People residing abroad) and fifteen administrators to represent persons insured with the Fund.
They have seats also in numerous other public bodies:
— 1 representative on the board of administration of the Agence pour l´enseignement français à l´étranger - AEFE (Agency for French Teaching Abroad)
— 2 representatives on the Commission nationale des bourses (National Study Grants Commission)
— 2 representatives on the Standing Committee for Employment and Vocational Training for French People residing abroad
— 1 representative on the Conseil national de l´aide juridique (National Legal Aid Council)
-
1 representative on the Conseil départemental de l´accès aux droits de Paris
(Paris Departmental Rights Entitlement Council)
— 3 representatives on the Conseil pour la protection sociale des Français de l´étranger (Council for the Social Protection of French People residing abroad) housed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
— the three CSFE Vice-Presidents are ex officio members of the Association Nationale des Écoles Françaises à l´étranger (National Association of French Schools Abroad).
E. Representation on local committees
The Delegates, in permanent contact with the accredited French authorities in their country of residence, are ex officio members of the consular bodies competent in the fields of employment and vocational training, welfare action and protection, and study grants. They have two representatives on each administrative committee sitting in the voting centres set up for the Presidential election, European Parliament elections and referendums.
They can, moreover, be consulted by the heads of diplomatic and consular posts on all general matters of concern to the French nationals in their electoral district.
— 3 representatives on the Conseil pour la protection sociale des Français de l´étranger (Council for the Social Protection of French People residing abroad) housed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
— the three CSFE Vice-Presidents are ex officio members of the Association Nationale des Écoles Françaises à l´étranger (National Association of French Schools Abroad).
E. Representation on local committees
The Delegates, in permanent contact with the accredited French authorities in their country of residence, are ex officio members of the consular bodies competent in the fields of employment and vocational training, welfare action and protection, and study grants. They have two representatives on each administrative committee sitting in the voting centres set up for the Presidential election, European Parliament elections and referendums.
They can, moreover, be consulted by the heads of diplomatic and consular posts on all general matters of concern to the French nationals in their electoral district.
