COVID-19 Crisis Prompts French Expatriates in Morocco to Consider Return Home

Installed in Morocco for some, for many years, French expatriates in Morocco are about to return to France for various reasons. If for most, this reason would be due to the covid-19 pandemic, others are leaving due to the financial difficulties caused by the covid-19 crisis, or to get closer to French healthcare facilities.

Anne Genetet, LREM deputy for French people abroad, is closely following the evolution of the situation of French expatriates around the world. Officially, there are 1.8 million of them, but in reality, it is estimated that there are rather close to 3 million living outside of France. For the deputy, there are three categories of expatriates who wish to return home. According to her, there are those who were just passing through abroad and have asked to return. Then there are those who are established abroad, who are very well settled and have no plans to return to France. And then there are those who are established abroad and who are wondering whether to return.

In Morocco, 56,000 French people are regularly registered in the register. Other regularly established expatriates in Morocco and who are not living in precariousness, are not concerned by this measure of the French government. "We see the interest of registering there when we have a passport to renew, for example. So the number of French people who would return is quite difficult to assess. But we estimate that several hundred thousand people could be concerned," she says.

In addition, a telemedicine, teleconsultation platform has been set up for those who would really be in financial difficulty, with a spending ceiling made available to these French people abroad.

This is the health offer, for more than 20 million euros, the social assistance of 50 million euros, and which represents 150 euros per family, plus 100 euros per child. "It is the consulates that distribute these aids. It’s a domino effect. If we don’t help all these people, it’s jobs in the world and in France that will disappear. The state must help to get through this hump. It is crucial and there are thousands of jobs at stake," concluded the deputy.