(CNN) -- Hungarians went to the polls Sunday in a national election that could see the ruling Socialists ousted from power.
Opinion polls ahead of the vote suggested that the center-right Fidesz party, could win a two-thirds majority, according to the MTI news agency.
Fidesz, led by former prime minister Viktor Orban, has promised tax cuts and more jobs in a country still feeling the impact of the global financial crisis.
Hungary was forced to negotiate a $25 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union in 2008 to keep its economy afloat.
The country has been governed by a minority Socialist administration led by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai since last April, following the collapse of a Socialist-led coalition.
Since then Bajnal has implemented austerity cuts as Hungary strives to recover from a seven percent slump in GDP and double-digit unemployment, according to MOVI TV's Peter Murphy.
Fidesz, which started life as an anti-communist youth movement, has been out of power since 2002.
Polls suggest the far-right Jobbik party, which won seats in the European Parliament in elections last year, could also claim seats in the Hungarian parliament for the first time.
More than eight million voters are eligible to take part in Hungary's elections. A second round of voting is due to take place on April 25.
CNN
