Former French prime minister Manuel Valls has won the first round of the Socialist party's presidential primaries in New Caledonia.
Manuel Valls Photo: SUPPLIED/Pool picture
He won almost 75 percent of the 1,500 votes cast, with Benoit Hamon coming a distant second in the territory while winning most support in mainland France.
Turnout was extremely low - at less than one percent.
Twenty-six polling stations opened for the contest which will be followed with a run-off between the two men next weekend.
There is no official Socialist Party in New Caledonia whose voters overwhelmingly choose politicians of the French centre-right.