Kosovo Ends Months of Political Stalemate as Parliament Approves New Albin Kurti Government

Kosovo’s parliament successfully approved a new government led by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, breaking three months of political paralysis and setting the stage for a critical constitutional showdown regarding the presidency.

Parliamentary Speaker Albulena Haxhiu announced Sunday that the new administration secured backing from 62 lawmakers within the 120-seat assembly. The breakthrough follows months of instability stemming from the requirement that Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party secure opposition support to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to elect a president.

Failure to elect a new president will force Kosovo into holding another snap election, marking the fourth such vote in just two years. Although a specific date for the presidential vote remains unannounced, Albin Kurti’s party has triumphed in three legislative elections since February 2025—including snap polls in December 2025 and June 2026—while continuing to struggle in gathering sufficient support to install the largely symbolic president.

Political tensions remain high. In late August, Albin Kurti formed an agreement with the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and its 18 MPs to support law professor Bekim Sejdiu as the nation's new president. However, just a day later, six LDK lawmakers declared defiance against their leader's decision.

This ongoing domestic deadlock directly ties into Albin Kurti’s hardline stance toward neighbouring Serbia, which has significantly impacted his political standing both domestically and internationally. Opposition factions have repeatedly criticized Albin Kurti for alienating Kosovo’s traditional Western allies through unilateral actions taken in the Serb-dominated north, leading to reluctance among partners to cooperate with his administration.

Previously, the United States and the EU pressed Albin Kurti to de-escalate political tensions in the north following deadly confrontations between Kosovar police and armed Serbian “paramilitary formations.” Beyond these diplomatic strains, the political paralysis has created tangible economic fallout, stalling vital legislative reforms necessary for European Union integration and endangering Kosovo’s access to pre-accession funds.