Last year there were 70 votes in the Kosovo Assembly to elect the person who will chair the parliament, a strategic position on which the implementation of the legislative calendar depends. As Europa Press reports, this political deadlock and disputes between parties have prevented the formation of a stable government since February, exacerbating institutional uncertainty and postponing important decisions such as the approval of the 2026 budget, keeping the receipt of funds from the European Union in limbo.
According to Europa Press, early elections will take place in Kosovo this Sunday, as a direct response to the political crisis that the country has been going through since the beginning of the year. The trigger for the current stalemate was the parties’ inability to reach an agreement after the first elections, which led to two failed attempts to form a functioning government. The electoral context faces an electorate characterized by a high unemployment rate, which according to official figures is over 25 percent, while almost 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.
The international community, particularly the United States and the European Union, have closely followed the evolving political situation in Kosovo. The Europa Press medium detailed that the US Embassy had expressed concern over the summer about the lack of institutional progress. As quoted by the media, the diplomatic legation warned: “This ongoing standoff delays progress on Kosovo’s future aspirations and threatens the integrity of the institutions that the people of Kosovo have fought so hard to create.”
A relevant factor in recent days has been the European Union’s recent decision to lift the suspension of certain economic and cooperation sanctions that have weighed on Kosovo. Europa Press reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported the move after describing the transfer of power in the north of the country after local elections as “peaceful.” Restrictions imposed included freezing financial cooperation and canceling high-level visits in response to a lack of progress in reducing tensions in Serb-majority communities in northern Kosovo.
Incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his political party Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) enter the race as clear favorites, having achieved 42.3 percent of the vote in the last elections, a result that practically doubled the percentage of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), currently led by former Central Bank Governor Bedri Hamza, which reached 20.3 percent, and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which reached 18.3 percent 42-year-old economist Lumir Abdixhiku.
Despite this significant advantage, Kurti did not achieve an absolute majority as he did not have the required 61 of the 120 seats in parliament, forcing him to negotiate pacts with rival parties. As Europa Press reports, these arrangements were not enough to ensure parliamentary stability, as opposing parties limited the prime minister’s room for maneuver, keeping him in a position dependent on fortuitous alliances and subject to the pressures of social discontent, which is one of the main arguments of his opponents.
The dispute between the forces led by Kurti, Hamza and Abdixhiku has become crucial to the immediate future of the country. Vetëvendosje’s success in obtaining an absolute majority would pave the way for more effective governance, while renewed fragmentation of the vote could prolong institutional paralysis and risk a renewed deadlock in government formation. According to Europa Press reports, the role of the LDK and its young leader could be crucial if it decides to support Kurti or tip the balance in favor of another option, making the outcome of the elections more uncertain.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s economic prospects depend critically on the ability of its institutions to unblock the budget process and access international aid. Europa Press reported that millions of euros from the European Union remain dependent on the approval of budget plans and progress in the process of political normalization, a particularly urgent situation in a country affected by high unemployment and poverty.
The early elections represent a crucial moment for the young Balkan republic, whose institutions are facing one of the longest crises since independence. According to Europa Press, international scrutiny and tensions in the north of the Serb-majority territory increase the challenge of restoring popular trust and reorienting parliamentary work, always under the supervision of key partners in Brussels and Washington.
The development of election day, the distribution of seats and the possibility of opening a phase of political cooperation remain the focus of attention at home and abroad. Europa Press stressed that despite the computational advantage of Vetëvendosje and Kurti’s leadership, the formation of a stable government will depend on post-recount negotiations and the commitment of the main forces to overcome the differences that have paralyzed the institutional bloc over the last year.
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