The report notes that the relevant law on campaign finances does not regulate spending by third parties who play an active role in the campaign.Continue reading
“The OSCE’s (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) report assumes the narrative of the Hungarian opposition, evoking biased journalism rather than fact-based evaluations,” according to Jerzy Kwaśniewski. In an interview with pro-Fidesz news portal Magyar Nemzet, the President of the Board and co-founder of the Ordo Iuris Institute, a Catholic organization which is considered ultra-conservative, explained his problems with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) delegation to Hungary, intended to observe the April 3 election.
The OSCE has come to Hungary with a record number of experts and delegates from throughout the European Union, with the intention of observing the election campaigns and the election itself on April 3, ensuring that everything fits into the framework of a democracy in the European Union.
The OSCE has already submitted its 16-page interim report to the National Election Committee (NVB) raising concerns over the misuse of public positions and resources for campaigns. It notes that there are no legal restrictions on campaigning by public officials and that the use of administrative resources in campaigning is not prohibited. The NVB, however, did not find any violations.
The OSCE also criticized the restrictive media legal framework, the increased concentration of media ownership, and the domination of government commercials in advertising. According to Jerzy Kwaśniewski, a member of the observation delegation, the interim report of the delegation “does not meet international standards for accuracy, verifiability and impartiality.”
They [the OSCE] repeatedly fail to name their sources for objections and do not give the perspective of governing parties. They essentially represent the opposition’s platform, they are biased. […] They do not provide full context of how constituencies were drawn; they do not show evidence of their allegations of media imbalances.”
It is quite a strong claim to accuse one the world’s largest regional security organization of partisan biases and a lack of accuracy, especially with a record high delegation of experts, but Kwaśniewski still raises questions about what the organization’s purpose is in Hungary.
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Ordo Iuris Insitute for Legal Culture is an ultra-conservative Polish think tank aimed at researching “the legal culture and spiritual heritage in which Polish culture is rooted, and to promote them in public life and the legal system.” The organization, which attempted to criminalize abortion in 2016, has been characterized as anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, and anti-divorce.
He argues that international organizations such as the OSCE distinguish Central and Eastern European countries as “new” democracies, and thus try to babysit their political processes. Kwaśniewski said that such actions are “completely unacceptable,” in countries “where a centuries-long constitutional tradition stands.”
Kwaśniewski is not the only one who has been critical of the OSCE’s presence in Hungary. On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented on the record number of observers assigned to monitor the election, saying “these Western institutions of peace have become institutions of war.” As we all know, this comment was made in the middle of an actual war raging in a country which shares a border with Hungary.
According to Orbán, the OSCE’s activity no longer constitutes “monitoring,” but is instead aimed at “preparing accusations well in advance against political forces who stand a good chance of winning, but whom they don’t like.”
Orbán’s accusing the OSCE of warmongering and bias is especially relevant when considering that Poland, a cultural and political ally of Hungary, took over chairmanship of the organization this year. It should be noted, however, that relations have soured very recently due to Hungary’s non-affiliation in the Russian-Ukrainian war and Poland’s open support for Ukraine.
Featured photo illustration by Nándor Veres/MTI