Kosovo Prime Minister Seeks Coalition After Election Results Fail to Yield Majority
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s left-wing Vetevendosje! party won the most votes in the recent parliamentary elections but did not secure a majority. Kurti is now seeking coalition partners to form a government while facing challenges related to economic conditions and ethnic relations, particularly with Serbia. The international community, including KFOR and EU observers, monitored the elections closely amid ongoing political tensions.
Albin Kurti, the Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, announced the need to seek coalition partners after his party, while winning a plurality of votes, failed to secure a majority in Parliament during the recent parliamentary elections. Preliminary results reveal that Vetevendosje! received approximately 41.3% of the votes but will need to ally with other political parties to form the new government.
On February 9, 2025, the parliamentary election marked a significant milestone as it was the first full parliamentary term since Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008. This election, noted as the ninth since the cessation of hostilities with Serbia, occurred amidst heightened scrutiny as discussions regarding normalization of relations with Serbia remain unresolved. Additionally, Kosovo’s ongoing financial dependencies and foreign aids are critical economic factors, particularly given the country’s classification as one of Europe’s poorest nations.
According to the Central Election Commission, with 88% of votes counted, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) followed Kurti’s party, capturing 21.8% and 17.8% respectively. Despite the electoral outcome, Kurti expressed optimism about his party’s future role, insisting that “The people won. Vetevendosje! won. We are the winners who will form the next Cabinet.”
The preliminary turnout for the election was reported at approximately 40.6%, notably lower than previous elections. The new Parliament, consisting of 120 seats, allocates 20 seats to minorities, including 10 designated for the Serb minority. As Kosovo continues to navigate post-war recovery, Kurti’s administration will face numerous challenges, such as addressing public salary increases and improving overall living conditions.
Additionally, Kurti is anticipated to mend relationships with Western allies, particularly given prior tensions arising from his government’s actions, including restricting the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo. Relations with the ethnic Serb population remain strained, particularly as they rely heavily on Serbian governmental support.
Despite obtaining only 2.8% of the total vote, Srpska Lista, the ethnic Serb party, claimed victory with its leader expressing gratitude for the backing of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Prior to the election, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) had heightened its presence in the region due to ongoing ethnic tensions. International observers from various organizations, including the EU, were deployed to monitor the election process, ensuring transparency and fairness.
In summary, the recent parliamentary elections in Kosovo underscored the complexities of coalition politics as Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party gained the most votes but failed to achieve a parliamentary majority. The outcome necessitates coalition building for effective governance, while significant challenges include improving socio-economic conditions and managing ethnic relations amid ongoing tensions with Serbia. The international community remains watchful as Kosovo navigates these pivotal issues.
Original Source: apnews.com
