ODIHR opens election observation mission in Hungary

BUDAPEST, 24 February 2022 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 3 April parliamentary elections and referendum in Hungary, following an official invitation from the national authorities and a needs assessment mission conducted in January this year.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Jillian Stirk and consists of a core team of 14 international experts based in Budapest and 18 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 5 March. ODIHR also plans to request 200 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections and referendum, including pre- and post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the recently amended legal framework, candidate registration, the conduct of the campaign including on social networks, as well as the work of the election administration at all levels, election dispute resolution and media coverage. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations, will be published some months after the elections.

Media contacts:

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: [email protected] or  +36 204788819

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson: [email protected] or +48 609 522 266