Home
+
Published : 29 Dec 2025, 07:36 PM
An emphatic election victory for Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti marks a resurgence for the nationalist leader, ending a political deadlock in Europe's youngest state and potentially determining its domestic and international agenda for years.
With nearly all the votes counted, Kurti's Vetevendosje Party led with more than 49 percent of Sunday's vote, official results show, meaning he only requires some very small coalition partners to form a majority.
The win strengthens Kurti's mandate to push through domestic reforms, including welfare expansion and higher salaries for public workers, although he faces major problems including tensions with Serbia and health and education systems that lag Kosovo's Balkan neighbours.
It signals a turnaround for Vetevendosje, whose failure to win enough votes in the last poll in February or form a coalition with larger opposition parties meant that parliament did not function for most of 2025, an impasse that led to delays in the delivery of around 1 billion euros in international funding vital for one of Europe's poorest countries.
That funding can now be unlocked when parliament reconvenes and ratifies agreements with the European Union and the World Bank. The EU reacted to the election by applauding Kosovo's "strong commitment to democratic principles" and said it would release more funding for the country early next year.
The exact outcome of another term for Kurti is unclear, but at stake is Kosovo's relations with its historic international allies, including the United States, its attempts to join the European Union, which Kurti supports, and tense relations with its northern neighbour Serbia.
"It's a political earthquake that has shattered the opposition parties, and we are going to feel the consequences of this result for the next decade," said political commentator Ilir Deda.
"Kosovo has decided to replace this political pluralism with a model of very strong government and weak opposition, like other countries in the Western Balkans."
VOTE BRINGS HOPE AND SCEPTICISM
Sunday's poll took place over the holiday period when Kosovo's diaspora are typically at home in force, which may have aided Kurti, who was previously elected in 2021. According to an exit poll conducted by Ubo Consulting, 61.7% of people from the diaspora voted for the prime minister's party.
"We are tired of this nine-month blockade that has cost us our nerves, cost Kosovo millions of euros, and set back our development. With this result there is a solution, which is why we are happy," said Tahir Shabani, 58, who lives in Germany but returned to Pristina to vote.
Still, others wanted to see immediate changes after the impasse, especially in quality of life, healthcare, and education.
"Institutions must be established and the state must continue to function. We have a lot of work to do, just as the Prime Minister said. The budget must be approved, we must approve international agreements, and progress must be made," said Pristina voter Skender Halimi, 52.
NORTHERN TENSIONS EASE
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with US backing, including a 1999 NATO bombing campaign against Serbian forces trying to crush an uprising by the 90% ethnic Albanian majority.
Despite international support, the country of 1.6 million has struggled with poverty, instability and organised crime. While over 100 countries recognise Kosovo's statehood, Serbia, Greece, Spain, Russia and many others do not.
Tensions with Serbia flared violently in 2023, prompting the EU to impose sanctions on Kosovo - in part due to Kurti's policies towards the Serb minority in northern Kosovo, including installing ethnic Albanian mayors in Serb-majority areas, and forcing ethnic Serbs to use Kosovan number plates on their cars.
The EU measures likely cost Kosovo hundreds of millions of euros.
While that hit Kurti's reputation at home and abroad, he received a boost this month when the EU announced that it would lift the sanctions and was releasing 216 million euros in funds for Kosovo - just as election campaigning began.
In a statement on Monday, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas applauded Kosovo's "strong commitment to democratic principles" and said that the EU would release a further 205 million euros early next year.
It urged Kosovo to normalise relations with Serbia, a key condition for either country to join the EU. "The EU stands ready to host a High-level meeting once conditions allow," it said.
