OSCE/ODIHR Launches Election Observation Mission in Hungary Ahead of April 2026 Polls

Mission Deployed for Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

BUDAPEST – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) officially launched an election observation mission in Hungary on February 26, 2026. This deployment comes ahead of the country's parliamentary elections, which are slated for April 12, 2026. The mission's primary objective is to assess the electoral process for its adherence to OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, and national legislation.

Leadership and Composition of the Mission

The newly established mission is headed by Eoghan Murphy. It comprises a core team of 15 international experts based in Budapest. Additionally, 18 long-term observers are scheduled to be deployed across the country starting from March 7. ODIHR also plans to request the deployment of 200 short-term observers, who will arrive several days prior to election day to monitor polling, counting, and tabulation processes.

ODIHR's History of Election Observation in Hungary

This marks the seventh time that ODIHR has observed parliamentary elections in Hungary, with previous missions including the most recent ones in 2022. For the April 3, 2022, parliamentary elections and referendum, ODIHR deployed a full Election Observation Mission (EOM) led by Ambassador Jillian Stirk. That mission consisted of 14 international experts and 18 long-term observers, with a request for 200 short-term observers. Following the 2022 elections, the mission concluded that while the elections were 'well run,' they were 'marred by the absence of a level playing field,' noting issues such as a pervasive overlap between the ruling coalition and government messaging.

Observation Process and Reporting

The observation mission will closely monitor various aspects of the election, including the implementation of the legal framework, candidate registration, the campaign environment, election dispute resolution, and media coverage. An interim report will be published approximately two weeks before the elections to update the public and media on the mission's activities. Following election day, the mission's initial findings and conclusions will be presented at a joint press conference, with a comprehensive final report to be issued some months after the conclusion of the observation.