Kosovo's prime minister, Albin Kurti, has secured a decisive victory in Sunday's snap election, ending a prolonged political deadlock in Europe's youngest state. With nearly all votes counted, Kurti's Self-determination party garnered over 49% of the vote, allowing him to form a majority government with only minor coalition partners.
The emphatic win strengthens Kurti's mandate for domestic reforms, including welfare expansion and higher salaries for public workers. However, he faces significant challenges, including tensions with Serbia and underperforming health and education systems that lag behind Kosovo's Balkan neighbours.
The election was called after Kurti's failure to secure enough votes in the February 2025 poll or form a coalition led to a parliamentary impasse for most of the year. This deadlock delayed the delivery of approximately €1bn in international funding crucial for one of Europe's poorest countries.
The snap poll, held during the holiday period when Kosovo's diaspora is typically at home, may have boosted Kurti's support. An exit poll indicated 61.7% of diaspora voters backed his party. Tahir Shabani, a 58-year-old voter from Germany, expressed relief: 'We are tired of this nine-month blockade that has cost us our nerves, cost Kosovo millions of euros, and set back our development.'
Political commentator Ilir Deda described the result as 'a political earthquake that has shattered the opposition parties,' warning it could lead to a model of strong government and weak opposition similar to other Western Balkan countries. At stake in Kurti's new term are Kosovo's relations with international allies, including the US, and its EU membership bid.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but tensions remain high. The EU imposed sanctions on Kosovo in 2023 after violent clashes with Serbia, partly due to Kurti's policies towards the Serb minority. However, the EU recently announced it would lift those sanctions, a move Deda said voters interpreted as a sign of no problems between Kurti's government and the West.
