BUDAPEST, April 9 (Xinhua) -- 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. Enditem