ODIHR opens election observation mission in Bulgaria

SOFIA, 13 March 2026 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission ahead of the 19 April early parliamentary elections, following an invitation from the national authorities and based on the findings of a pre-election needs assessment mission.

The mission is headed by Dunja Mijatović and consists of a core team of 12 international experts based in Sofia. Fourteen long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 20 March, and ODIHR also plans to request 200 short-term observers to arrive several days before election day. The core team experts and long-term observers come from 18 different OSCE participating states.

"We are here at the invitation of the Bulgarian authorities to observe the early parliamentary elections. As always, our assessment will be neutral and independent, helping to strengthen public confidence and at the same time support efforts to improve the electoral process," Mijatović said.

The mission will closely observe all key aspects of the elections, such as the campaign, including on social networks, campaign finance, the work of the election administration at the national, regional and, local levels, the legal framework, election dispute resolution, media coverage, and institutional arrangements put in place by the authorities to deter disinformation. Observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations. Members of the observation mission will also meet representatives of the national authorities, political parties, civil society, the media, and the international community.

"Our long-term observers will soon arrive in Bulgaria to monitor the run-up to the election across the country, and will continue their work in the days following election day. They will meet election officials, candidates, civil society representatives, and members of the media in all regions of the country to gain a thorough and balanced understanding of the entire election process," Mijatović added.

For election day itself, a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will join efforts with the ODIHR mission.

An interim report will be published by ODIHR some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission's activities. The day after the elections, the mission's preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a joint press conference. A final report with a comprehensive assessment and containing recommendations to help improve the process for the future will be published in the months following the elections.

ODIHR has previously observed 15 elections in Bulgaria. Most recently, ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team for the June 2024 early parliamentary elections. For further information on ODIHR's election observation activities in the country, please visit: Elections in Bulgaria | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

ODIHR carries out election observation across the OSCE region. Election observation missions assess the extent to which fundamental freedoms are respected in the campaign and if the elections are characterized by equality, universality, political pluralism, confidence, transparency, and accountability. ODIHR's mandate to observe elections comes from the OSCE commitments outlined in the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Since the Office's establishment over 30 years ago, ODIHR has deployed more than 470 missions.

Media note and contacts:

The Mission is firmly committed to transparency and openness in all aspects of its work and encourages media inquiries.

Adeline Marquis, Media Analyst: [email protected] or +359 87 955 8172

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: [email protected] or +48 609 522 266