The polls have opened in Denmark's parliamentary election Thursday, where voters are deciding the fate of a decade of center right rule.

Recent opinion polls show the ruling center right government led by Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rassmussen is trailing the left leaning Social Democrats.

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.