The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has officially initiated an election observation mission in preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 April. This mission follows an invitation extended by national authorities and is informed by the findings of a pre-election needs assessment mission.
Eoghan Murphy is leading the mission, which comprises a core team of 15 international experts based in Budapest. Beginning on 7 March, 18 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country. Additionally, ODIHR intends to request the participation of 200 short-term observers, who will arrive in the days leading up to the election. The core team and the long-term observers represent 26 OSCE member states.
“Our long-term observers will soon be arriving in Hungary and will be present across the country from big towns to small villages, looking carefully at the process before, during, and after the vote. As well as meeting election officials, they will also speak to candidates, civil society representatives, and the media, to get a thorough understanding of all the most important aspects of the elections,” Eoghan Murphy said.
The mission will monitor key aspects of the elections, including the campaign, campaign financing, election administration at various levels, the legal framework, and measures to detect disinformation. Observers will assess media coverage, election dispute resolution, and the implementation of previous ODIHR recommendations. They will also meet with representatives from national authorities, political parties, civil society, the media, and the international community.
“As always, our mission is fully independent and impartial. Its assessment of the elections is based on a well-established methodology developed by ODIHR over more than 30 years and constantly refined in response to the evolving election landscape,” the head of the mission said.
On election day, delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will work alongside the ODIHR mission. Two weeks before the elections, ODIHR will release an interim report updating the public and media. The day after the elections, initial findings will be presented at a press conference. A final report with a comprehensive assessment and recommendations for future improvements will follow in the months after the elections. ODIHR has observed six previous parliamentary elections in Hungary, including the latest in 2022.