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Ahead of France voters inside the consulate. Photo: AFP

FRENCH people living in Australia voted yesterday in the second round of presidential elections. Those living in Canada, the United States and South America went to the polls on Saturday, casting their ballots a day ahead of their compatriots in France.

In Australia, where close to 15,000 people are eligible to vote, electors began arriving shortly before polls opened at 8am at Sydney's French consulate, one of eight polling centres in the country.

''I'm proud to do that,'' Marcelle Vettier, a resident of Australia for almost four decades, said in English after casting her vote. ''As a French citizen, I take that from the bottom of my heart - as well as being faithful to the country where I am.''

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Others said it was important to cast their vote in the French elections, given the global impact of the economic crisis in Europe.

''What I believe is that this election is very important because of the global crisis and now what has become the European crisis,'' said Christiane Frisch, speaking in English. ''The French position and French policies will have an impact, not just in Europe but in the whole world, including in Australia.''

Agence France-Presse

Original post:
First to vote: French expats rally for the Republic