Kosovo Holds Third Parliamentary Election in 18 Months Amid Political Deadlock
Kosovo held its third parliamentary election in 18 months on June 7, 2026, after parties failed to agree on replacing former President Vjosa Osmani by a March 2026 deadline. Prime Minister Albin Kurti's centre-left Vetevendosje party has held a clear parliamentary majority since December 2025. The prolonged political crisis has delayed EU and NATO integration progress and blocked access to international funds for one of Europe's youngest and poorest countries.
Third parliamentary election
▪Analysts do not expect major changes in the June 7, 2026 Kosovo election outcome compared to the December 2025 vote.
▪Kosovo's June 7, 2026 parliamentary election was scheduled after the main political parties failed to agree by a March 2026 deadline on who should replace former President Vjosa Osmani.
▪Kosovo held a second parliamentary election in December 2025 after the February 2025 election left the country without a functioning government.
▪Kosovo held an early parliamentary election on June 7, 2026, the third in 18 months.
▪Kosovo's first inconclusive election in February 2025 left the country without a functioning government for much of 2025.
Presidential election deadlock
▪Former President Vjosa Osmani is running on the opposition LDK list in the June 7, 2026 election.
▪Kosovo's president is elected by at least 80 lawmakers in the 120-member assembly, requiring a broader political consensus.
▪Former President Vjosa Osmani turned against Prime Minister Albin Kurti after Kurti refused to back Osmani for a second term in office.
▪The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo have accused Prime Minister Albin Kurti of seeking to impose full control over all political institutions in Kosovo.
▪Prime Minister Albin Kurti's centre-left Vetevendosje party has held a clear parliamentary majority since the early election in December 2025.
Economic impact of crisis
▪Kosovo is one of the youngest and poorest countries in Europe.
▪Kosovo's prolonged political crisis has negatively affected Kosovo's economy, already hit hard by the global energy crisis and rising fuel prices.
▪Kosovo voters want the government to focus on the economy and living standards.
▪Kosovo's institutional vacuum without a stable government has delayed access to the EU and other international funds available to the country.
EU membership aspirations
▪European Council President Antonio Costa urged Kosovo during a visit in late May or early June 2026 to end the political impasse and unite over the goal of EU integration.
▪Kosovo is striving to join the European Union and NATO.
▪Both Pristina and Belgrade have been told they must mend relations to move forward with their EU membership bids.
Ethnic Serbian minority tensions
▪Tensions remain high in Kosovo's north, where most of the ethnic Serbian minority live.
▪Kosovo has been recognised by the United States and most EU countries, but not by Serbia and its allies, Russia and China.
▪Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a 1998-99 war, which ended in a NATO bombing campaign that forced Serbia to withdraw.
Perspective of Opposition parties (Democratic Party of Kosovo and Democratic League of Kosovo)
▪The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo have accused Prime Minister Albin Kurti of seeking to impose full control over all political institutions in Kosovo.
Perspective of European Union
▪European Council President Antonio Costa urged Kosovo during a visit in late May or early June 2026 to end the political impasse and unite over the goal of EU integration.
▪Both Pristina and Belgrade have been told they must mend relations to move forward with their EU membership bids.
Story comments
Loading comments…