French voters flocked to choose a new president today in an election dominated by right-wing front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal, who hopes to be the first woman elected head of state.
Voter turnout was almost 74 per cent at 3pm, the Interior Ministry said, the highest rate in a first round since at least 1981 and about 15 percentage points higher than at the same time in the last presidential election in 2002.
Mr Sarkozy, a former interior minister, led Ms Royal and the other 10 candidates in opinion polls throughout the long campaign. But neither was on course to obtain an absolute majority, making a run-off between them likely on May 6th.
The campaign was characterised by calls for change after 12 years of conservative rule by President Jacques Chirac which have left one of the world's wealthiest nations divided and in need of economic reform, job creation and a dose of self belief.
"The French people know the importance of this vote, its seriousness, and I share their sentiment of living through a very important day," Ms Royal told reporters after casting her vote in the western Poitou-Charentes region where she is leader.
Ms Royal (53) has pledged to re-unite the country and build a "fairer and stronger" France where all citizens would be equal. The ruling UMP party's Sarkozy (52) has promised a break with the past, and a crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.
The brisk voting in sunny weather followed a big rise in voter registration, reflecting massive interest in an election that will usher in a new generation of politicians.
Widespread voter apathy in 2002 was partly blamed for a shock first round result that saw far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen reach the second-round run-off against Chirac.
Final opinion polls suggested a third of the 44.5 million voters were not sure of their choice at the last minute, giving hope to third-placed centrist Francois Bayrou and Le Pen, who was lying fourth in most surveys.
Sarkozy smiled as he voted with his wife Cecilia, a joint appearance that seemed intended to hit back at rivals' insinuations that their marriage is in trouble.
"What is very important is that the French come to vote in large numbers," he told reporters in Neuilly, a suburb of Paris.
The run-up to the election was largely calm, but three bombs exploded overnight in the Corsican port town of Bastia, injuring one passer-by. The explosions followed clashes at a separatist demonstration on the island in which five police were wounded.