Parliamentary Elections, 6 April 2014

Press Conference

Following an official invitation, and based on the findings and conclusions of an OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission undertaken from 20 to 23 January, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) to observe the 6 April parliamentary elections.  

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR LEOM, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover, consists of 13 international experts based in Budapest. In addition, 10 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 12 March.

Observers will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. The mission will assess the legislative framework and its implementation, and will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, participation of national minorities and women and the resolution of election disputes. The mission will conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media.

Election Day

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for limited election observation missions, the mission will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Mission members will, however, visit a number of polling stations across the country to follow election day procedures.

The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed three parliamentary elections in Hungary since 1998, most recently the 2010 parliamentary elections.