Kosovo’s ruling party, led by nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti, won more than half of the votes in elections on Sunday (28), paving the way for the formation of a government in Parliament after a year-long political deadlock.
Kosovars went to the polls for the second time this year after no party managed to secure the majority needed to govern in February’s elections. Months of failed negotiations to form a coalition led President Vjosa Osmani to dissolve parliament in November and call early elections.
As of Sunday evening local time, Kurti’s party, the LVV (Self-Determination Movement), was in the lead with 50.2 percent of the vote. Analysts say it is difficult to predict whether the prime minister will be able to form a government alone without a coalition to secure the necessary 61 seats in the Balkan country’s 120-seat parliament.
The two main opposition parties, the Democratic Party and the Democratic League, were at 20.7% and 14%, respectively.
“The will of the citizens is now in the ballot boxes. Preserving this will is essential for the legitimacy and credibility of the electoral process,” Kurti said in a video message following the release of exit polls indicating his victory.
A new failure in the formation of a government and the reopening of Parliament would prolong the crisis at a critical moment for this country of just under 2 million inhabitants. Parliamentarians are expected to elect a new president in April and ratify loan deals worth 1 billion euros (6.5 billion reais) from the European Union and the World Bank that expire in the coming months.
The country’s opposition parties have refused to govern under Kurti, criticizing his handling of relations with Western allies and his approach to northern Kosovo, where a Serb minority lives. Kurti blames the opposition for the impasse.
To try to convince voters, Kurti promised an extra month’s salary per year for public sector employees, a billion euros of investment per year and a new prosecution unit to fight organized crime. Opposition parties have also focused on improving living standards – a major concern of voters.
After voting in Pristina, the country’s capital, Kurti urged people to vote, saying greater participation would strengthen the legitimacy of parliament.
“As soon as the election result is known, we will do everything we can to form parliament as quickly as possible and put in place a new government,” he said. Participation was 45%, according to the results.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the support of the United States, which bombed Serbian forces in carrying out a massacre against Albanians in the region – around 90% of the Kosovar population is of Albanian origin. The country’s independence is not recognized by the UN and by most countries in the world, including Brazil.
Since its independence, Kosovo has struggled with poverty, political instability and organized crime. Kurti’s term, which began in 2021, was the first time a government completed a full term.
Tensions with Serbia increased in 2023, leading the European Union to impose sanctions on Kosovo. The bloc announced this month that it would suspend them after the election of Serbian mayors of northern municipalities, but the measures have already cost Kosovo hundreds of millions of euros.
About The Author
