Following an official invitation from Bulgaria to observe the parliamentary elections on 5 July 2009, the ODIHR has deployed a limited election observation mission (LEOM).

The LEOM, headed by Ambassador Colin Munro of the United Kingdom, consists of seven international experts based in Sofia. ODIHR asked the OSCE's participating States to second 12 long-term observers to be deployed across the country.

The mission will assess the electoral process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments for democratic elections, other international standards, and national legislation. It will focus on the election campaign, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the performance of the election administration and relevant government bodies, the resolution of election-related disputes, the participation of national minorities in the electoral process.

The LEOM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting, and tabulation procedures on election day, but observers will visit several polling stations across the country.

ODIHR will issue a final report approximately two months after the completion of the election process.