Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party won the most votes in a snap election Sunday marked by low turnout, but not enough to govern alone with tough talks ahead to form a coalition, nearly complete results showed.
In Kosovo’s third election in just over a year, Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party won nearly 43% of the vote, according to results from almost all polling stations.
But it falls short of the previous election in December, when the party garnered 51%. It is not enough to allow Vetëvendosje to form the next government on its own, suggesting challenging coalition talks ahead.
The opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) garnered 21% and 17% of the vote respectively.
The vote follows months of institutional paralysis. A deeply divided parliament failed to elect a new president in April, worsening a crisis triggered by inconclusive elections in February 2025.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party emerged as the largest force in the February 2025 election, but fell short of securing a governing majority, leading to months of political stalemate and a fresh vote in December.
Although Kurti’s party again won the most seats (51.1%, up from 42% in February) and formed a government with the backing of minority representatives, tensions persisted. An opposition boycott of a parliamentary vote to appoint a new president ultimately forced the dissolution of parliament, paving the way for Sunday’s election.
Former President Vjosa Osmani, who is now running for parliament for her former party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), told Euronews: “I am very much hopeful that the people of Kosovo will help us achieve that result by creating a democratic balance among political parties here in Kosovo that will make all political parties sit down with one another and make sure that we achieve an agreement on creating the institutions as soon as possible.”
Of the ongoing stalemate, she said: “It is an unnecessary crisis, a completely unnecessary deadlock, because it is harming the country.”
Analysts warn the latest vote may not break the cycle. Political researcher Ardi Uka said Kosovo appears stuck in a pattern of repeated elections, with little sign of compromise between rival parties.
“The crisis will continue,” Uka said.
Additional sources • AP, AFP
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