Kosovo held a snap parliamentary election as voters tried to break a political deadlock after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje failed to form a government following a Feb. 9 vote. Key issues include reserved parliamentary seats for ethnic Serbs, an unapproved budget, and an upcoming presidential vote in March that could trigger another snap election if it fails. Kurti remains the frontrunner but faces uncertain coalition prospects amid regional tensions and international scrutiny.
Kosovo Votes Again: Snap Election Seeks To Break Political Deadlock as Kurti Pursues Majority
A voter prepares her ballot at a polling station in an early parliamentary election in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Pristina — Voters across Kosovo returned to the polls on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election intended to resolve a political impasse that has paralyzed the country for much of the year.
The early vote followed Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement failing to form a government after winning the largest share of votes in the Feb. 9 ballot. The standoff marked the first time Kosovo could not form a government since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008.
What’s At Stake
Kurti’s movement entered the contest again as the frontrunner, but it is uncertain whether it can secure a majority in Kosovo’s 120-seat parliament after other mainstream parties rejected coalition talks. Under Kosovo’s election law, 20 seats are automatically reserved for ethnic Serb representatives and other minority groups, a factor that shapes coalition math.
A voter arrives at a polling station in an early parliamentary election in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Another inconclusive outcome would deepen the political crisis. Parliament has not approved a budget for next year, raising concerns about the impact on Kosovo’s fragile economy and public services in a country of roughly 2 million people.
Presidential Vote And Institutional Deadlines
Lawmakers are also due to elect a president in March as President Vjosa Osmani’s mandate expires in early April. If the presidential ballot fails, the constitution requires yet another snap election, prolonging instability.
Security, Foreign Relations And Domestic Tensions
A former political prisoner under Serbian rule, Kurti (50) has taken a hard line in European Union–mediated talks aimed at normalizing ties with Belgrade. Some of his policies prompted punitive measures from the EU and the United States. Kurti has also pledged to buy military equipment to strengthen security.
Supporters of Belgrade-backed Srpska Lista prepare to go at a polling station and cast their ballots in an early parliamentary election in the northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Tensions with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo flared into violent clashes in 2023 that left scores of NATO-led peacekeepers injured. In a more hopeful development this month, ethnic Serb mayors assumed office peacefully after municipal elections.
Kosovo has agreed to accept some third-country migrants deported from the United States under revised U.S. immigration arrangements; authorities say one migrant has arrived so far.
Polls, Numbers And Public Sentiment
No reliable pre-election polls were widely published ahead of the vote. In the February election Kurti’s party won roughly 42% of the vote while the two main rival parties combined polled about 40% — meaning small shifts in support could be decisive for forming a governing coalition.
“Young people no longer want to live here,” said Ilmi Deliu, a 71-year-old pensioner in Pristina, adding he hoped the election would bring change or “we will end up in an abyss.”
Kosovo remains one of Europe’s poorest economies and is among six Western Balkan countries pursuing eventual European Union membership. Both Kosovo and Serbia have been told they must normalize relations before advancing toward EU accession.
Outlook: The result could either break the deadlock and allow for budget approval and a stable government — or it could prolong instability, prompting further political and economic uncertainty for the country.
