In the first round of a by-election in French Polynesia, the Ai'a Api party won most votes ahead of the territory's ruling party, the Tahoeraa Huiraatira.
The by-election is to fill vacancies in the council of Mahina, a municipality east of Papeete, where a third of the seats have been vacant because of two deaths and nine resignations.
Ai'a Api won 42 percent of the vote and Tahoeraa just over 40 percent.
The second round will be held on Sunday.
Yesterday's poll was contested by five parties and the turnout was almost 62 percent.
