Denmark holds parliamentary elections Thursday, with the ruling center-right coalition expected to face strong opposition from a left-wing bloc led by the Social Democrats.

Three different surveys released Wednesday show the Social Democrats with a clear lead over Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen's coalition, which has been in power for 10 years.

If the Social Democrats take power, Helle Thorning-Schmidt would likely become Denmark's first female prime minister.

Both parties share similar views on the economy, foreign policy, welfare and immigration but differ in their outlook on taxes.

Thorning-Schmidt wants to avoid some of the country's planned austerity measures by raising taxes on wealthy Danes and banks.