Kosovo heads to third election in a year after another failure to elect president

Kosovo is entering a new election period after the parliament failed to elect a President of the Republic within the constitutional deadline, automatically triggering early parliamentary elections that must be held within 45 days. Acting President Albulena Haxhiu has invited political parties to consultations to determine the election date, with 7 June emerging as the preferred option of the Central Election Commission.

The latest political crisis culminated at midnight on 28 April, when the legal deadline to elect a new head of state expired. Under an interpretation by the Constitutional Court, failure to appoint a president within the prescribed timeframe leads directly to the dissolution of parliament and the calling of early elections.

The vote was intended to select a successor to Vjosa Osmani, whose term ended earlier this month. However, repeated attempts to secure a parliamentary majority failed, plunging the country into renewed institutional uncertainty.

Kosovo faces presidential deadlock: no second candidate blocks Parliament session as deadline expires

Kosovo’s constitution sets a clear procedure for electing a president through the 120-seat assembly. A quorum of at least 80 lawmakers is required for the vote to take place. In the first two rounds, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. If no candidate succeeds, a third round is held in which a simple majority of 61 votes is sufficient. In this case, however, the process never reached the voting stage, as opposition parties boycotted the session, denying the chamber the necessary quorum.

The ruling Vetëvendosje movement had nominated Feride Rushiti and Hatixhe Hoxha, but the opposition refused to participate, arguing that the candidates were put forward without meaningful consultation and warning against allowing the governing party to control all three key institutions: the government, parliament and presidency.

Speaking at the close of the session, Haxhiu, who also serves as speaker of parliament, confirmed the legal consequences. “In accordance with the decision, the parliament is considered dissolved,” she said, marking the formal start of the electoral countdown.

Preparations for the vote are already underway. Haxhiu met with Kreshnik Radoniqi, head of the Central Election Commission, who recommended 7 June as the most feasible date. He stressed that the commission requires as much time as possible to organise the process, given the administrative and logistical demands of early elections.

“We asked to have as much time as possible – we need preparation, because this is not an easy process,” Radoniqi said, noting that the Constitutional Court had indicated 31 May or 7 June as possible options. “For us, the date is 7 June; now it is up to the president to decide.”

The cost of the election is expected to be around €10 million, broadly in line with previous votes. The financial burden is particularly notable as no elections had been planned for this year, meaning no dedicated budget had been allocated.

The political atmosphere is already shifting into campaign mode. Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, said the developments demonstrated the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, while sharply criticising Prime Minister Albin Kurti and rejecting what he described as a “party-state” model.

From the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, Blerta Deliu-Kodra accused Kurti of attempting to shift responsibility for the failed presidential election onto the opposition. She also criticised the government for making appointments to the boards of public institutions shortly before the dissolution of parliament, describing it as an attempt to secure partisan control.

These exchanges highlight the broader confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition, which is expected to dominate the pre-election period.

Kosovo, a country of around 2 million people that declared independence from Serbia in 2008, has faced persistent political instability in recent years. An inconclusive election in February 2025 led to prolonged negotiations, followed by another early vote in December that returned Kurti to power but failed to resolve institutional tensions.

The European Union has repeatedly urged Kosovo and Serbia to normalise relations as part of their respective paths towards EU membership, adding an external dimension to the country’s domestic challenges.

Kosovo’s institutional crisis continues: a vicious circle

Sources: IBNA, BGNES

Caption: Acting President Albulena Haxhiu has invited political parties to consultations to determine the election date, with 7 June emerging as the preferred option of the Central Election Commission. [Radio and Television of Kosovo on X]