Danish voters appear set to elect the center-left into power and the country's first female prime minister in parliamentary elections Thursday, after a decade of center-right rule.

Early exit polls show the left-leaning opposition Social Democrats led by Helle Thorning-Schmidt winning a clear majority with 93 of the 179 seats in parliament.

One poll gave the opposition 51 percent of votes cast, ahead of the ruling coalition government comprising Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen's Liberal Party and the Conservative Party.

The opposition and the coalition share similar views on the economy, foreign policy, welfare and immigration but differ in their outlook on taxes.

Ms. Thorning-Schmidt wants to avoid some of the country's planned austerity measures by raising taxes on wealthy Danes and banks. Mr. Loekke Rasmussen has ruled out any tax increases.

The 44-year-old Ms. Thorning-Schmidt is the daughter-in-law of British Labor politician Neil Kinnock.