Kosovo’s parliamentary elections have yielded a surprising result, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party, Vetevendosje, leading the pack but falling short of a majority. The election has been marked by controversy, with opposition parties criticizing Kurti’s handling of the economy and his efforts to extend government control over the ethnic-Serb majority north.
The outcome of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo has been revealed through exit polls, showing that Prime Minister Albin Kurti‘s party, ‘Vetevendosje,’ is leading with around 40% of the votes. However, this falls short of the majority needed to form a government.
Kurti has expressed confidence in his ability to form a new government, stating, ‘We are the winners and this is confirmation of a good, prosperous and democratic government.’ Despite his optimism, official results remain unclear due to technical issues with the Central Election Commission‘s counting system.
Albin Kurti is a Kosovo Albanian politician and activist.
Born on March 24, 1975, in Pristina, Kosovo, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Vetëvendosje! (Self-Determination) movement.
In 2020, Kurti became the Prime Minister of Kosovo, serving until his resignation in 2021.
He is known for his advocacy on issues such as economic reform and EU integration.
According to a 2019 survey, 44% of Kosovars view him favorably.
Kurti's leadership has been marked by controversy, including allegations of authoritarianism.
President Vjosa Osmani has called for the commission to protect the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring that every vote is counted correctly. The editor of Koha news group, Besnik Krasniqi, has gone further, suggesting that President Osmani should sack the commission’s chair due to the failure of their preliminary results system.
According to exit poll projections, ‘Vetevendosje’ will secure 47 seats in the 120-member parliament, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) are polling 21% and 20%, respectively. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has 6%.
The election has been marked by controversy, with opposition parties criticizing ‘Kurti’s handling of the economy and his efforts to extend government control over the ethnic-Serb majority north.’ ‘Kurti’s popularity on this issue has antagonized Kosovo’s main backers, the EU and the US.’
Albanian politician Albin Kurti has been embroiled in several controversies throughout his career.
In 2011, he was arrested and charged with inciting violence during a protest, but later acquitted.
In 2020, he faced allegations of supporting terrorism after meeting with leaders from the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
The KLA is designated as a terrorist organization by some countries.
Albin Kurti has denied these claims, stating that his meetings were diplomatic efforts to resolve historical issues between Albania and Kosovo.
Under Kosovo‘s constitution, 10 MPs must come from the Serb minority, and they will not co-operate with ‘Vetevendosje’ party. The remaining 10 seats are reserved for other minority ethnic groups that have previously worked with ‘Vetevendosje.’
Kurti came to power in 2021 when his coalition secured a small majority with over 50% of the vote. Before official results were declared, he stated, ‘Our coalition will form our third government. It will continue the work. The people won, Vetëvendosje won.’
The outcome of these elections is crucial for Kosovo‘s future, particularly given its complex relations with Serbia and the international community.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, leading to strained relations between the two countries.
The dispute centers around Kosovo's status as a sovereign state and its right to self-governance.
Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence, citing historical and cultural ties.
The conflict has resulted in limited economic cooperation and diplomatic tensions.
According to the European Union, over 1 million people have been displaced due to the conflict since the 1990s.
