Albin Kurti Wins Kosovo Snap Election, Ending Parliamentary Deadlock
Albin Kurti's Self-determination party secured more than 49% of the vote in Kosovo's snap election held on 29 December 2025. This victory enabled Kurti to form a majority government with small coalition partners, ending a parliamentary deadlock that had rendered Kosovo's parliament largely non-functional throughout most of 2025. The deadlock had delayed approximately €1 billion in international funding to the country.
Kurti's new term is focused on advancing domestic reforms, including expanding welfare programs and raising salaries for public workers. The election outcome was influenced notably by strong diaspora turnout, with exit polls indicating that about 61.7% of diaspora voters supported his party.
The election result is expected to influence Kosovo's foreign relations, particularly its efforts to strengthen ties with Western allies such as the United States and the European Union. Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 with US backing, has a population of about 1.6 million and is recognized by over 100 states, although countries like Serbia, Greece, Spain, and Russia do not recognize its independence.
The political context of the election included past tensions with Serbia, particularly a flare-up in 2023 and subsequent EU sanctions that cost Kosovo hundreds of millions. The EU sanctions were lifted around the time of the campaign. Analysts have described the election outcome as a political earthquake in the Western Balkans, marking a shift toward a stronger government and weaker opposition in Kosovo.
