OSCE parliamentarians to observe Hungary’s upcoming elections; pre-visit completed today

COPENHAGEN, 20 March 2014 – OSCE parliamentarians will observe Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections and provide leadership for the OSCE's short-term observer mission. A pre-election visit was completed today.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter has designated Adao Silva (MP, Portugal) as Special Co-ordinator of the Mission to observe the 6 April vote. Jennifer Hilton (MP, United Kingdom) will serve as Head of the OSCE PA Delegation, which includes some 40 parliamentarians from 15 OSCE participating States.

“Following the significant and far-reaching changes to the electoral system in Hungary in recent years, these elections will be watched very closely. We, as international observers, can add important transparency to the process. It is my hope that Hungary will once again demonstrate its commitment to democratic practices during this election,” said Silva.

Members of the delegation will travel to polling stations across Hungary, working closely with long-term observers from the OSCE/ODIHR.

The mission will assess the elections against democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.

Silva completed a pre-election visit to Budapest today after discussing the campaign and electoral preparations with senior officials and politicians, including the President of the National Election Office; the Chairman of the National Election Commission; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the President of the Supreme Court; members of parliament from a number of parties contesting the elections; and representatives of the media and civil society.

Silva is the Head of the Portuguese Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. He and Hilton are experienced politicians and have participated in numerous observation missions throughout the OSCE areas.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly previously observed the first and second rounds of the 1998 parliamentary elections in Hungary.

Since 1993, more than 5,000 OSCE parliamentarians and staff have observed more than 130 different elections in more than 30 countries.

This is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 56 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.