Dear Val,
I write as one of the co-founder organisers of FET, so marvellously run by Donald Douglas, who suggested that I get in touch. The issue concerned is the civil rights of which many of us living in France or in other EU countries are deprived, just at the moment of a referendum in UK on 23 June this year. Many of those most qualified to cast a vote, in terms of their lived experience, are in fact disenfranchised. (Having lived here more than forty years, I am completely beyond the pale).
The only response available, since legislation promised in 2013 will not be passed in time, is to encourage those who still have the vote – ie resident ‘away’ for less than 15 years – to register and to use their right, whichever way indeed they choose to do so.
I would be glad to learn whether this issue is eligible for presence on Taglines, and would be glad to come and hear views about it. But time is brief, and this week I am 6 000km away in Oman, a pleasant monthly obligation, from which I shall not return until Saturday next, 19 March. I have suggested that Christopher Chantrey in Paris might get in touch or at least send one or two documents on the issue (Basically one has to register anew each election year, so previous electoral entries are invalid) This is this admin effort that we would wish to invite people to make, if they still hold the rights that so many of us have lost).
I’ll say no more for the moment, as this has become long enough, and trust we may pick up on this shortly.
With best regards,
Christopher Pike
Val says any information that would help us with this we will happily publish.
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