Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider sending a large delegation of experienced and trained election observers to observe the elections in Hungary in April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12948/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has requested Member States to nominate candidates for the position of Observers for the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Hungary for the Parliamentary elections and referendum which are scheduled to take place on 3 April 2022.

This followed the OSCE ODIHR Assessment Mission visit to Budapest at the end of January 2022 and the publication of its report on 4February 2022 which recommended a full Election Observation Mission with 18 Long-Term Observers and 200 Short-Term Observers.

The Department has agreed to the nomination of up to three Short-Term Observers from the Department’s Election Observation Roster. This is in line with commitments made by fellow EU Member States in supporting this mission.

Members of the volunteer election observation roster have been notified by my Department and officials will process applications as these are received. The deadline for nominations by Member States is 8 March 2022. The final selection of nominated candidates will be made by the OSCE ODIHR. 

As a member of the likeminded group of EU Member States on the rule of law, Ireland supports the democratic process in Hungary and joins with other likeminded EU Member States in supporting the OSCE ODIHR mission.