Kosovo went to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes election aimed at ending a year-long political impasse that has paralysed parliament, stalled key reforms and delayed critical international funding for Europe’s youngest nation.
The vote marks Kosovo’s second general election this year after the ruling nationalist party failed to secure an outright majority in February. Months of unsuccessful coalition talks eventually forced the dissolution of parliament in November and triggered the fresh ballot.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party is seeking a clear majority to restore legislative activity and form a stable government, as the country faces looming political and economic deadlines.
Failure to break the deadlock could deepen the crisis at a sensitive moment. Lawmakers must elect a new president by April and ratify about €1 billion in loan agreements from the European Union and the World Bank, which are due to expire in the coming months if not approved.
Opposition parties have consistently refused to form a coalition with Kurti, accusing him of straining relations with Western allies and mishandling tensions in Kosovo’s ethnically divided north, home to a significant Serb minority. Kurti, in turn, has blamed the opposition for blocking governance and prolonging the standoff.
As campaigning drew to a close, Kurti sought to rally voters with promises of improved living standards, including an extra month’s salary annually for public sector workers, €1 billion per year in capital investment and the creation of a specialised prosecution unit to tackle organised crime.
Opposition parties have also centred their campaigns on economic hardship, pledging reforms aimed at boosting jobs, wages and social services.
Voters arriving at polling stations expressed mixed emotions, with many voicing frustration over years of political instability.
“We want the next government to create conditions for the youth to stay here and not leave,” said one voter in the capital, Pristina.
Others were more sceptical about the prospects for change, regardless of the outcome.
“There wouldn’t be great joy if Kurti wins, nor would there be if the opposition wins. This country needs drastic changes, and I don’t see that change coming,” said another voter.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and are due to close at 7 p.m., with exit polls expected shortly after voting ends. Opinion polls are not published in Kosovo, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Political Crisis Hits Funding, Foreign Ties
The prolonged political stalemate has taken a toll on Kosovo’s international standing and finances.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with strong backing from the United States and its allies, following a NATO bombing campaign in 1999 aimed at halting a crackdown on the ethnic Albanian majority.
Despite international support, the country of about 1.6 million people continues to grapple with poverty, political instability and organised crime. Kurti’s previous term, which began in 2021, marked the first time a government in Pristina completed a full four-year mandate.
Relations with Serbia deteriorated sharply in 2023, prompting the European Union to impose sanctions on Kosovo.
Although the EU recently moved to lift those measures after ethnic Serb mayors were elected in northern municipalities, the sanctions are estimated to have cost Kosovo hundreds of millions of euros in lost funding and investment.
Sunday’s vote is widely seen as a referendum on Kosovo’s political direction and its ability to stabilise governance, repair strained international relationships and unlock vital financial support.