French Vote in Second Round of Local Elections

French voters went to the polls Sunday for a second round of local elections following a first round last week that saw the far right make sharp gains against President Francois Holland's ruling socialists.

With the Socialists facing a drubbing, Hollande is expected to react by ordering major changes at the top of his beleaguered government. Popular Interior Minister Manuel Valls is widely tipped to replace current Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

The vote, in which the first ballots were cast in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, is also predicted to result in the far-right National Front establishing an unprecedented footprint in France's local government by winning control of as many as a dozen mid-sized towns.

Voters went to the polls from 08:00 am (06:00 GMT). Polls were set to close at 06:00 pm, 07:00 pm or 08:00 pm depending on size of the district.