"Our challenge is to make this role more visible"

Written by Damien Bouhours, Le Petit Journal London

"We have already met with French nationals in several towns and cities and launched a survey that received 3,000 responses." Standing on the ENSEMBLE! list, led by Patricia Connell, Marlène Dbouk was elected as a Councillor representing French Citizens Abroad, having served as a Consular Delegate since 2021. Having lived in the United Kingdom for the past 25 years, Marlène Dbouk is a psychologist by training, specialising in environmental issues. She volunteered at her children's school, where she contributed to the development of the French Programme, and advocates for the promotion of French culture across the UK.

Many French nationals still do not know who to turn to when they need help!

What is the main lesson you take away from this election?

Our list, "ENSEMBLE! For All French Citizens in the United Kingdom", came first in this election. I fully appreciate what that represents, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who voted for us. What strikes me most is just how much work remains to be done in raising awareness: many French nationals still do not know who to turn to when they need help. Our challenge is to make this role more visible.

What will your main priorities be over the coming months?

We have already met with French nationals in several towns and cities throughout the country and launched a survey that received 3,000 responses. Without ranking them in any particular order, three priorities stand out:

• Information and communication, so that every French national living in the United Kingdom is aware of the digital services available to them and understands what they are entitled to. This communication will need to make use of a range of different channels, in both French and English.
• Support for our older community members, whose isolation is a deeply important human issue that we are determined not to overlook.
• Access to French-language education, as some children simply do not have access to it depending on where they live. We are working to find sustainable, long-term solutions to these situations.

We must also travel across the country to meet French nationals living throughout the United Kingdom.

Voter turnout remains relatively low compared with the number of registered voters. How do you explain this, and how do you intend to engage more closely with French nationals in the United Kingdom?

Most French nationals in the United Kingdom do not know what a Councillor representing French Citizens Abroad is, or how our role differs from that of the Consulate, for example. Many live far from London and have gradually become disconnected from French administrative procedures. As for official emails, which are often written only in French, many people either do not read them or do not understand them. Addressing this is a shared responsibility. We also need to travel and meet French nationals wherever they live across the United Kingdom. If we work together, we should be able to achieve this.

Our goal is to support projects that will benefit all French nationals in the United Kingdom.

How do you intend to work with the other elected representatives in the constituency, including those from other lists?

The responsibilities of the role come before political affiliations. Our goal is to support projects that will benefit all French nationals in the United Kingdom. If an elected representative from another list puts forward a good initiative, I will support it without hesitation. Campaign rivalries belong in election campaigns.

I will be here, approachable and present.

What message would you like to send to the French nationals in the United Kingdom who have placed their trust in you?

Thank you, sincerely. I will be here, approachable and present, fully aware of the responsibilities this role entails. Your questions will not go unanswered, and we will do everything we can to help you find the right person to assist you whenever needed.