Kosovo is set to hold its third parliamentary election in a year and a half after the country's parliament failed to elect a new president by the April 28 deadline set by the Constitutional Court. The dissolution of parliament triggers a snap election in June, plunging the nation into another electoral cycle.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the Self-Determination movement (Vetevendosje), formed a government in February, but a lack of consensus with opposition parties on a presidential candidate has led to the current crisis. Vetevendosje won only about 5% of the vote in the December 2025 election.

Outgoing President Vjosa Osmani, who served from 2021 to April 2026, had sought a second term but failed to secure Kurti's backing. She claimed Kurti had promised support, calling her 'the best president of the 21st century,' but later withdrew it. Kurti argued he could not muster the required 80 votes out of 120.

In a last-ditch session on April 28, Kurti nominated civil society figure and human rights activist Feride Rushiti, but opposition parties boycotted the vote. Analysts describe the Kurti-Osmani partnership as an 'ad hoc electoral alliance' rather than a natural political bond.

Naim Rashiti of the Balkans Policy Research Group noted that both leaders are 'very ambitious and competitive,' often clashing on foreign policy. Osmani was seen as more cooperative with international partners, while Kurti allegedly adopted a confrontational stance, raising questions about Kosovo's foreign policy coherence.

The political instability is hampering EU-mandated reforms and the EU-brokered dialogue with Serbia. Ehat Miftaraj of the Kosovo Law Institute warned that frequent elections, while demonstrating democracy, weaken Kosovo's position in negotiations and divert focus from European integration, potentially costing the country hundreds of millions of euros in EU financial support.

Source: www.dw.com