Kosovo holds elections for the third time in 18 months due to political crisis

Early parliamentary elections are being held in Kosovo on Sunday. This is the third vote in the last 18 months, aimed at helping the country break the political deadlock and restore the functioning of state institutions. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.

Details

Elections will take place in Kosovo today.  This is the third attempt in 18 months to break the political deadlock. Kosovo is attempting to overcome a political crisis to continue its course toward rapprochement with the European Union, improve relations with Serbia, and implement reforms necessary for the continued receipt of international aid. 

In the last snap vote in December, Prime Minister Albin Kurti won the election with 51.1% of the vote; however, he failed to secure a broader political consensus for the election of a new president, which ultimately led to early elections once again. 

Voting across the country concludes at 7:00 PM. Kosovo must break the deadlock to continue efforts toward its goal of joining the European Union, which must be preceded by improving ties with its neighbor Serbia, a wartime enemy. Reforms must also be carried out to ensure the continued flow of international aid, 

Additional Information

Problems with forming a stable government in Kosovo have been ongoing since February 2025. At that time, Prime Minister Albin Kurti's party won the elections, but he was unable to gain sufficient support to form a government. 

For several months, deputies tried to elect a speaker of parliament and approve the composition of the government, but without success. As a result, new elections were scheduled. 

Despite the formation of a government, the political crisis continued due to the inability to elect a new president. Albin Kurti was unable to secure support for his candidate for the post and, at the same time, refused to support other contenders. Although the presidency in Kosovo is largely ceremonial, a broad base of support from members of parliament is required for election.

As a reminder

Marta Kos supported Kosovo's European integration and emphasized the importance of reforms. Pristina is calling on the EU to grant the country official candidate status for membership.