Hungary, Parliamentary elections, 12 April 2026

Following an invitation to observe the 12 April parliamentary elections, based on the findings and a recommendation of the Needs Assessment Mission, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for these elections.

Long-term Observation

The mission is led by Eoghan Murphy and consists of a core team of 15 experts based in Budapest. In addition, 18 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 7 March.

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely follow fundamental components of the elections such as:

• election-related legislation and its implementation
• the work of the election administration and other relevant bodies
• voter registration 
• candidate registration
• campaign environment and activities, including online and through social media platforms
• institutional preparedness and effectiveness to detect and address disinformation, foreign and domestic misinformation and interference, co-operation with social media platforms 
• campaign finance, including its regulation, transparency and accountability
• media environment and media coverage of the elections
• the resolution of election-related disputes

The observers will also assess how prior ODIHR election related recommendations have been considered. The ODIHR EOM will conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign, including on social networks.

Election Day

ODIHR will request the secondment of 200 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow the election day proceedings. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two which will observe: 

• the opening of polling stations
• the voting
• the counting of ballots
• the tabulation of results at all levels.

For election day itself, delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will join efforts with the ODIHR mission. The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a joint statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued some months after the end of the election process.

Previous Elections

ODIHR has observed six previous elections in Hungary, most recently the 2022 parliamentary elections.