French Socialists began voting today in a primary that Segolene Royal is hoping will give her a clear endorsement to lead the party into next year's presidential election.
Outright victory in the first round would boost Ms Royal's campaign to become France's first woman president and underline her opinion poll status as the only Socialist capable of beating the right's frontrunner, Nicholas Sarkozy, in the 2007 ballot.
Voting in most of the country began at 4pm at party offices with counting due to begin after voting closes six hours later and a result due early on Friday.
Ms Royal (53), a regional leader who has enjoyed a huge poll lead over her more experienced rivals for months, has campaigned as the candidate capable of shaking up France's political system.
"Politics has to change, the way power is exercised has to change," she told 2,500 supporters yesterday at a final rally in the western town of Nantes.
Despite a long career in French politics, her image as a fresh face, strong on traditional values and ready to listen to citizens' concerns has played well with a public grown tired of leaders all cast from the same elitist mould.
An opinion poll published today put Ms Royal and Mr Sarkozy level if they faced each other in the decisive final round of voting next year.