MADRID 

Around 10 million eligible voters are casting ballots in Portugal's parliamentary elections on Sunday.

The voting started at 8 a.m. local time and will end at 7 p.m. (0700-1800GMT).

Opinion polls show the ruling Socialist Party (PS) as the most favorite candidate to win the elections.

Sunday's elections mark the 16th time that the Portuguese vote in legislative elections.

Around 8,000 police officers were charged to ensure security during the elections.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Saturday called on people to go to the polls, saying: "The next four years will be determinant for Portugal."

In election rallies, Prime Minister Antonio Costa warned voters not to fall into the trap of political instability, like in Spain.

"We had stable four years and Spain is about to hold its fourth elections in four years. We should not be living something like that in the future," he said.

Portugal is also one of the few European countries where far-right parties have not gained ground with less than 1% voter base.

*writing by Diyar Guldogan