def country_choices(first=None, default_country_first=True):
    """Return a list of (code, countries), alphabetically sorted on localized
    country name.

    :param first: Country code to be placed at the top
    :param default_country_first:
    :type default_country_first: bool
    """
    locale = _get_locale()
    territories = [
        (code, name) for code, name in locale.territories.items() if len(code) == 2
    ]  # skip 3-digit regions

    if first is None and default_country_first:
        first = default_country()

    def sortkey(item):
        if first is not None and item[0] == first:
            return "0"
        return to_lower_ascii(item[1])

    territories.sort(key=sortkey)
    return territories