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Kosovo Faces Early Election After Parliamentary Deadlock

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 12:24 GMT by WDIO

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Kosovo Heads for an Early Vote After Parliament Fails to Form a Government

In the days following Kosovo’s April general election, the country’s 120‑member Assembly found itself at a standstill. A full‑fledged government could not be elected, leaving the nation to face an early parliamentary vote scheduled for early September. The impasse stems from a fractured political landscape in which no single party or coalition can secure the 61 votes needed for a majority, and the delicate balance of power between Kosovo’s Albanian majority and its Serbian minority has complicated the negotiations.

The Election Results

The April 6 election, the most recent since the country’s declaration of independence in 2008, saw a record voter turnout of roughly 61 percent. The ruling Vetëvendosje (Self‑Determination) party, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, saw its share of seats fall from 51 in the previous assembly to 41, a loss of ten seats. This left Vetëvendosje short of the 61‑vote majority it had previously enjoyed. The left‑wing populists faced a resurgence from the Serbian‑aligned parties. The Serb List (SLS), representing Kosovo’s substantial Serbian minority, captured 26 seats, a significant increase from its 14 seats in the last election. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the former ruling party, and the coalition of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Socialist Party of Kosovo (PSK) each secured 12 seats, while the minority Kosovo Serb parties such as the Democratic Union of Serbs (SNSD) and the Serbian List captured 12 seats together.

The most striking feature of the results is the “seat division” that emerged: Vetëvendosje, while still the largest single party, found itself unable to form a governing majority alone. The Serbian minority bloc held a substantial share of the Assembly’s 120 seats, while other parties were fragmented. The constitutional requirement that a new government must be formed within 30 days of the election was met, but negotiations failed to produce a viable coalition.

Why the Vote Failed

The root of the deadlock lies in Kosovo’s complex ethnic and political divisions. The constitution allows for a “provisional government” to be formed if no majority emerges, but such a government must be approved by a two‑thirds majority—an even higher bar. The Serb List and other Serb‑aligned parties are generally unwilling to cooperate with Vetëvendosje because of policy differences on issues ranging from the status of Kosovo’s Serb-majority areas to the recognition of the Serbian national minority’s rights.

Conversely, Vetëvendosje and its allies have been reluctant to join a coalition that includes parties perceived as hostile to their agenda of sovereignty and reform. The Albanian‑majority parties have also been wary of including the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose history is marred by allegations of corruption and ties to organized crime. The PDK’s refusal to cooperate with Vetëvendosje has left the Albanian‑majority bloc fragmented, and the PDK’s 12 seats have become a critical bargaining chip.

In the months that followed the election, the Assembly’s Speaker, Shpëtim Idrizi, attempted to negotiate between the parties. Despite a series of meetings, no consensus emerged. The failure to elect a new government has led to calls for an early election, a process that the constitution permits if the Assembly can not elect a government within a specified timeframe. The early vote would be scheduled before the deadline for convening a new election, which, according to the Constitution’s Article 102, is 30 days after the first sitting of the new Assembly.

Reaction from Key Stakeholders

Albin Kurti: The incumbent Prime Minister, who had been ousted in a 2020 vote of no confidence, expressed frustration with the stalemate. In a statement to the press, Kurti called the failure “a betrayal of the democratic will” and urged the Assembly to “embrace a new partnership” that would restore stability.

Serbian Government: Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement supporting the Serbian List’s performance and calling on Kosovo’s institutions to respect the rights of the Serbian minority. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated his nation’s commitment to a “fair solution” that would guarantee the Serb community’s political representation.

International Community: EU diplomats and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) issued a joint statement urging all parties to resolve the impasse peacefully. The European Union, which is closely monitoring Kosovo’s political developments as a part of its Balkan strategy, underscored the importance of a stable government for the country’s EU accession prospects.

Implications for Kosovo’s Future

The current impasse threatens to derail Kosovo’s trajectory toward European Union membership. A stable, fully functioning government is one of the critical prerequisites for accession talks, and any prolonged uncertainty could hamper reforms in the judiciary, public administration, and anti‑corruption efforts. Moreover, the unresolved status of the Serb‑majority areas in northern Kosovo remains a flashpoint that could reignite ethnic tensions if not addressed through political dialogue.

An early parliamentary election could also change the political calculus. If the electorate turns out for a fresh mandate, a new government might emerge with a different coalition structure. Alternatively, the current situation might prompt a re‑configuration of the Assembly’s composition through a snap election, allowing parties to recalibrate their positions. Regardless of the outcome, the key to moving forward lies in constructive dialogue and willingness to compromise on the hard‑won hard points that define Kosovo’s identity politics.

Conclusion

Kosovo’s failure to elect a new government after the April 2024 election has opened the door to an early vote, as mandated by the constitution. The resulting stalemate underscores the fragility of Kosovo’s coalition politics and the entrenched divisions between Albanian and Serbian communities. As the country stands on the brink of a potentially decisive election, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcome will have lasting implications for stability, governance, and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.