Florian Bohême: “Building together, acting for all”, Interview with the candidate of the list French in Cambodia – Stronger Together

As the elections for the Councilors of French Citizens Abroad approach, the list French in Cambodia – Stronger Together presents candidates deeply rooted in the daily life of the French community in Cambodia. Florian Bohême, head of the list and President of the Consular Council since 2021, embodies a vision of representation based on concrete action, transparency, and proximity.

Florian Bohême

With entrepreneurial and institutional experience built over twelve years in Cambodia, he reflects here on his track record, commitments, and the challenges facing the Franco-Khmer community.

Can you introduce yourself, your background, and what brought you to Cambodia twelve years ago?

As the son of shopkeepers from Sarthe, I grew up with a culture of independent work and hands-on experience, before training in hospitality school and briefly transitioning into public service. When I moved to Cambodia in 2015 with my husband Pascal, I reconnected with my professional roots by creating my consulting firm, which now employs seven staff members.

It is this dual background—business leadership and mastery of administrative systems—shaped by my mandate as a councilor for French citizens abroad and as President of the Consular Council since 2021, that I place at the service of our community.

What links and synergies have you developed with local institutional and associative networks?

My role is to build sustainable working bridges, whether by participating in the Chamber of Commerce or recalling the collective effort that led to the creation of the Alliance Française of Siem Reap ten years ago. But commitment cannot be the work of one individual alone: the strength of our approach lies in the rootedness of our collective, French in Cambodia – Stronger Together.

Our running mates are active participants in the daily life of this community, whether at the French Lycée, the French Institute, the Battambang School, or through our social outreach offices in Siem Reap.

In Siem Reap with Catherine Germier, tourism expert, and Bernard Podevin – running mate

What motivates this new candidacy and what is your track record?

My primary motivation is continuity in action. Even if it may not appeal to other lists with more populist positions, we have a factual record demonstrating that we have worked tirelessly over many months—a record fully available at www.francaisaucambodge.org. Far from abstract promises, we present the reality of our actions and our determination to continue this fieldwork.

What are the main challenges facing the community, particularly its Franco-Khmer component?

We must never forget that 51% of our community is Franco-Khmer: this historical legacy must be honored by France. Faced with rising school fees and difficulties within the AEFE system, we support our educational network—René Descartes, EFI, Acacia, the French Lycée of Siem Reap, and the French School of Battambang—through the monitoring of school scholarships.

For working professionals, our program includes the creation of a “Employment Hub,” a tool that will directly connect employers with French and Franco-Khmer job seekers in Cambodia.

In terms of healthcare, we will make the defense of the CFE an absolute priority, reaffirming its role as an essential social security institution and protecting its subsidized category for the most vulnerable.

Finally, we will protect our seniors from the digital divide and deploy the emergency initiative “Post-Support Assistance,” designed to guide and support families financially and administratively in the event of a death in Cambodia.

in Battambang with Caroline Loeum Grelier and Michel Tan, CEI of the MISOTA group

How do you plan to maintain regular and transparent communication with residents?

Proximity is not declared during election periods; it is lived daily. We are sustaining proven tools: our monthly newsletter, to provide a faithful account of our mandate; our Telegram channel, for real-time mutual assistance; and our online social support office.

This digital network, combined with our regular visits to the provinces, ensures that every compatriot who wishes to can receive attentive and responsive support.

What message would you like to send to dual nationals and expatriates who hesitate to vote, and what is your promise?

We are running a campaign based on substance and ideas, supported by twelve precise commitments. Among our concrete proposals, we aim to consider extended opening hours at the Consulate, adapted to working people, and we will submit an official request to the French Ambassador for the creation of an honorary consul position in southern Cambodia.

For culture and solidarity, we will launch the “Solidarity Book Exchange,” a simple initiative to circulate books within the community.

Visit to Kep at the NGO Kep Children

But voting is also an ethical choice: our list applies strict moral standards—no members of the same family appear on the list, and no candidate has been associated, directly or indirectly, with what could resemble misappropriation of association funds, as seen at the beginning of the current mandate.

If you renew your trust in us, we promise to dedicate our collective experience, constant availability, and absolute integrity exclusively to your protection and the general interest in Cambodia.