Kosovo Holds Snap Parliamentary Election Amid Political Deadlock
Kosovo voters went to the polls in a snap parliamentary election aimed at resolving a political deadlock that has stalled governance. The 120-seat parliament reserves 20 seats automatically for ethnic Serbs and other minorities. Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) party entered the election as the favorite but faces challenges in securing a majority, as rival parties have declined to form alliances.
This snap vote comes after the February 9 election resulted in Kosovo's first failure to form a government since its 2008 declaration of independence, leaving the country without an approved budget for the upcoming year. Adding to the political tension, a presidential election is scheduled for March with President Vjosa Osmani's mandate ending in early April. Failure to elect a president could trigger yet another snap election, deepening the crisis.
Opposition parties LDK and DPK accuse Kurti of authoritarianism and of alienating crucial US and EU allies since 2021. Kurti’s hardline stance in EU-mediated talks with Belgrade has led to punitive measures from both the EU and US. Despite this, he has pledged to bolster Kosovo's security by purchasing military equipment.
No reliable pre-election polls are available. In the previous election, Kurti’s party secured about 42% of the vote, while the two main opposition parties collectively garnered around 40%. Ethnic tensions persist, with violent clashes in 2023 between ethnic Serbs in the north and NATO-led peacekeepers. However, tensions have eased recently after ethnic Serb mayors assumed office following municipal elections.
On migration, Kurti has agreed to accept third-country migrants deported from the US under Trump-era anti-immigration policies, with one migrant having arrived so far.
