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Kosovo's parliament fails to elect prime minister as snap election looms

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, October 26th 2025 at 7:37 GMT by ThePrint
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The parliamentary arithmetic

The 2024 general election produced a diverse distribution of the 120 seats in the assembly. Vetëvendosje secured 45 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) took 33, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) earned 25, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AA) captured 19. The remaining 17 seats were held by independents and other minor parties. To form a government, a candidate must win an absolute majority—at least 61 votes—within the first round of the confidence vote.

On the first sitting of the new parliament, a series of proposals were tabled by the parties. Vetëvendosje’s nominee, Albin Kurti, received 27 votes. The LDK, which has historically been a major player in Kosovo’s politics, backed its own candidate, who garnered 31 votes. The PDK’s choice managed 24 votes, while the AA and other independents offered a combined total of 18. No candidate achieved the required 61 votes, and the voting process was marred by procedural delays and heated accusations of political sabotage.

In the days that followed, coalition talks were held in secrecy between the parties. The VV and LDK had been in a fragile partnership since the 2021 elections, but ideological differences—particularly over governance reforms and security arrangements—kept them from reaching a consensus. The PDK, led by former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, refused to align with the coalition until it could secure a significant influence over policy and cabinet appointments. As negotiations stalled, the political climate grew tense, with opposition leaders warning that a deadlock could lead to a governance crisis and hamper Kosovo’s aspirations for European integration.

President Osmani’s decision

Facing the risk of a prolonged power vacuum, President Vjosa Osmani invoked the constitutional provision that allows her to dissolve parliament if it fails to elect a prime minister within 30 days of its first session. On 24 May 2024, she publicly announced the dissolution and called for early elections to be held on 5 October 2024. Osmani also clarified that she would not be a candidate for the premiership, stressing her intention to maintain political neutrality and ensure a smooth transition.

The president’s move was met with mixed reactions. Supporters argued that early elections were necessary to break the stalemate and provide the electorate with a clear choice, while critics warned that the repeated dissolutions—this marks the third time in a span of four years—could erode public trust in democratic institutions. European Union officials, who view Kosovo as a strategic partner in the Balkans, urged stability and cautioned that frequent elections might delay the country’s accession talks and affect its budget support from EU funds.

Implications for Kosovo’s future

The snap election is expected to reshape the political map. Analysts suggest that Vetëvendosje may try to secure a broader coalition by appealing to the LDK or even the PDK, especially on key issues such as economic development, rule of law, and the status of Kosovo’s northern province, Preševo. The LDK, which has a long tradition of advocating for Kosovo’s territorial integrity, might look for a partnership that offers a stable governance structure, while the PDK could leverage its strong base in the southern regions to gain influence in any coalition.

In addition, the upcoming election will serve as a litmus test for the legitimacy of the current political order. With 70% of the electorate having voted in the recent parliamentary election, the new government will face scrutiny over how it plans to implement reforms promised by the parties, particularly in areas such as anti‑corruption measures, judicial independence, and public sector transparency.

Contextual background

The decision to call a snap election follows a pattern in Kosovo’s politics, where the dissolution of parliament has been used as a strategic tool by the executive to break deadlocks or to reset the political agenda. Earlier in 2022, President Osmani dissolved parliament after a failed attempt to elect a prime minister following the 2021 elections, which had seen Vetëvendosje and LDK form a coalition government that collapsed within a year. That early election in 2023 brought a slight shift in parliamentary composition but left many of the underlying divisions unresolved.

Furthermore, the ongoing negotiations with the European Union regarding Kosovo’s potential accession to the European Economic Area and the European Union itself remain sensitive to political stability. The EU’s “Rule of Law” criteria, in particular, emphasize the need for transparent and effective governance, and repeated political crises risk jeopardizing the country’s standing in European forums.

In conclusion, the failure of Kosovo’s parliament to elect a prime minister in May 2024 and the subsequent decision by President Vjosa Osmani to call a snap election underscores the fragile nature of the country’s parliamentary democracy. The forthcoming October election will not only determine the next government but also test Kosovo’s capacity to move forward on its long‑term goals of European integration, domestic reform, and regional stability.