Polling stations opened on Sunday in the first general elections since Hungary joined the European Union in 2004.

More than 8 million hungarians are expected to cast their votes to decide on the 386-seat parliament.

The vote will feature a close fight between Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's Socialist party and the main opposition conservative Fidesz party of former premier Viktor Orban.

Earlier polls have indicated that the Socialists have a slight advantage over Fidesz, but the difference is within the margins of error of the surveys.

Polling stations will close at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT) and the final outcome of the election is likely to come only after a second round runoff on April 23.

Source: Xinhua