French Presidential Elections: Candidates Court Expats

French presidential elections were kicked off overseas today, a day ahead of the French mainland. For the first time, French consulates provided candidates with the list of e-mail addresses of registered citizens living outside of France. The four favorites in the polls sent messages outlining their proposals targeted to expatriates, among which figured representation in the French parliament and easier access to the international network of French high schools. Candidates have been courting the large expatriates communities in New York and London in what is expected to be a very tight race.