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2025–2026 Kosovo political deadlock

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On 9 February 2025, Kosovo held parliamentary elections to choose the 120 members of its Assembly. The largest party in parliament after the election was Vetëvendosje (LVV), who won 42.3% of the vote and was granted 48 seats, 13 short of a parliamentary majority. The largest party is required by law to appoint the new Speaker of the Assembly within 30 days after the results are certified, needing to pass the threshold of 61 votes (an absolute majority).[1][2]

Deadlocks

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Speaker deadlock

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LVV's proposition for Assembly Speaker is the outgoing Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu. The voting process began on 15 April 2025, and was defeated by a vote of 52–48, with 11 abstentions.[3][4] The meeting was delayed by 48 hours as per Kosovo's legal framework, and the members reconvened again on 19 April. The members did not reach a consensus once more.[5][6] The meeting was delayed more than 40 times as a result of the opposition parties categorically refusing the proposed candidate, which has been called a "deadlock" or "blockade" by all parties. On 26 August, Dimal Basha from LVV was voted as Assembly Speaker on his second proposal with a majority vote of 73 to 30.[7][8]

All parties have accused each other of trying to block the process, and have refused several options, such as the option for a secret ballot which was proposed by lawmakers.[9][10] Haxhiu has said that if a secret ballot goes ahead and she does not receive the required 61 votes, she would withdraw.[11][12] Neither opposition party has proposed its own candidate for Assembly Speaker. The Assembly has also not approved a budget for 2026, increasing tensions.[13]

On 26 June, the Constitutional Court ruled that the deadlock must be ended within 30 days (by 26 July).[14][15] Following the court's decision, President Vjosa Osmani began to meet with party leaders to find an agreement.[16]

The deadlock has been met with symbolic civil protests.[17][18] In one protest on 3 July, the lawyer Arianit Koci gained a lot of media attention after he brought four donkeys in front of the doors of the Assembly, to symbolize "the stubbornness that the Assembly members are showing".[19][20] By 27 July, there were 54 votes in total before the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.[15][21][22]

On 8 August, the Court gave MPs another 30 days to elect a speaker. It however stipulated that no candidate could be proposed more than three times, and that MPs must be present to vote during the sessions. The Court also found that the acting speaker had violated the constitution by continuing to call for a commission to establish a secret ballot.[23][24]

No. Candidate Party Pro Against Abstention Date
1 Albulena Haxhiu VV 57 56 3 20 August[25][26]
2 Donika Gërvalla Guxo 57 56 3
3 Hekuran Murati VV 57 51 6 22 August[27]
4 55 46 5 24 August[28][29][30]
5 Arbërie Nagavci 55 47 4
6 Dimal Basha 57 25 24
7 73 30 8 26 August[31]

Serb deputy speaker deadlock

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From 26 August to 10 October 2025, Kosovo entered another institutional crisis, this time related to the election of the Serbian Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.[32] Slavko Simić was initially proposed as the Serb deputy speaker by the Serb List on 26 August 2025, but the nomination was rejected three times. Basha did not allow Simić to be proposed a fourth time, interpreting that the Constitutional Court ruling that stated a candidate can only be nominated three times for speakership also extended to the procedure to elect deputy speakers. After the Serb List refused to nominate another candidate, Basha began drawing lots among the Serb List MPs, and three candidates called from the lots were rejected.[33]

The deadlock was temporarily resolved after ZSPO MP Nenad Rašić was elected in the position on 10 October, and the Assembly was declared constituted. Basha stated that the procedure was correct, as all nine MPs from the Serb List had been proposed and exhausted. Basha also explained that Kosovo’s constitution specified the candidate must be a member of the Serb community but did not have to be from a particular political party.[34] The election of Rašić to the position resulted in the Serb List filing a complaint to the Constitutional Court.[35]

The Constitutional Court later declared Rašić's election as Serb deputy speaker unconstitutional on 28 January 2026, finding that Rašić hadn't been proposed by a majority of the Serb community, while also noting that the Serb List played a blocking role in the constitution of the Assembly.[36][37] Basha stated that the ruling by the Constitutional Court was "unfounded", stating that Rašić was elected only after the majority of Serbian community MPs failed to propose an alternative candidate.[38] The full ruling was later released on 4 February 2026.[39][40]

The ruling of procedures relating to the election of the Serb deputy speaker would later be applied after the Assembly met following the December 2025 elections and elected Albulena Haxhiu as Assembly Speaker on 11 February 2026.[40] The election of the deputy speakers was conducted as a single package, with Ardian Gola becoming Vetëvendosje's deputy speaker, Vlora Çitaku becoming PDK's deputy speaker, Kujtim Shala becoming LDK's deputy speaker, Emilija Rexhepi becoming the minorities' deputy speaker, and Slavko Simić becoming the Serb deputy speaker.[41]

Cabinet deadlock

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On 26 October 2025, LVV nominated Albin Kurti as prime minister-designate and presented a proposed cabinet; however, it failed to secure the required 61 votes, receiving only 56 in favor, while 52 deputies voted against and 4 abstained.[42] According to the Constitution of Kosovo, if the proposed composition of the new government does not obtain the necessary majority in the Assembly, the president must appoint a second prime minister-designate. Accordingly, on 19 November 2025, LVV nominated Glauk Konjufca as prime minister-designate and presented a proposed cabinet, but again failed to obtain the required 61 votes, receiving 56 votes in favor, 53 against, and 4 abstentions.[43]

A yellow background indicates the nominee who became part of the cabinet formed in February 2026.[44]

Portfolio 26 October nominee 19 November nominee Party
Prime Minister Albin Kurti Glauk Konjufca LVV
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs[a] Glauk Konjufca Albin Kurti LVV
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Donika Gërvalla Guxo
Third Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs[b] Fikrim Damka KDTP
Minister of Agriculture[c] Armend Muja LVV
Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Rašić ZSPO
Minister of Culture[d] Fatmir Spahiu Independent
Minister of Defence Ejup Maqedonci LVV
Minister of Education Avni Zogiani LVV
Minister of Energy[e] Artane Rizvanolli LVV
Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Fitore Pacolli LVV
Minister for Family and Social Welfare Andin Hoti LVV
Minister of Finance[f] Hekuran Murati LVV
Minister of Health Arben Vitia LVV
Minister of Infrastructure[g] Dimal Basha Besnik Bislimi LVV
Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla LVV
Minister of Local Government Administration Rasim Demiri Vakat
Minister of Public Administration and Digitalisation Lulëzon Jagxhiu LVV
Minister for Regional Development Sejnur Veshall PREBK
Minister of Sport[h] Blerim Gashani LVV
Minister of Trade[i] Mimoza Kusari-Lila Alternativa

Presidential election deadlock

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Under Article 86 of the Constitution of Kosovo, the Assembly must elect a president no later than 30 days before the end of the incumbent's term.[45] The 2026 election is the sixth presidential election held in Kosovo since independence in 2008. An initial attempt on 5 March 2026 failed because of a lack of quorum, triggering the 60-day constitutional period for electing a president.[46] On 6 March, President Vjosa Osmani dissolved the Assembly and moved toward snap parliamentary elections, but the decree was challenged by Vetëvendosje.[47] On 9 March, the Constitutional Court suspended the decree pending review.[48] On 25 March, the Court ruled that the dissolution decree had no legal effect and gave the Assembly 34 more days, until 28 April, to elect a president.[49] After Osmani's term expired on 4 April, Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu became acting president until a new president is elected, for up to six months.[50]

A second attempt to elect the president is scheduled for 27 April 2026.[51] However, the three main opposition parties—the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK)—announced they would boycott the session, labeling the proceedings a "propaganda show" and "not serious".[52][53][54]

On 28 April 2026, after the Assembly failed to elect a president within the deadline set by the Constitutional Court, it was dissolved in accordance with the Court's ruling. Acting president Albulena Haxhiu subsequently called snap parlimentary elections, which were scheduled for 7 June 2026.[55]

First round (1st attempt)
(5 March)		 First round (2nd attempt)
(27 April)
CandidatePartyVotes% CandidatePartyVotes%Result
Glauk Konjufca Vetëvendosje No quorum Feride Rushiti Independent 63 98.44 No quorum
Fatmire Mullhaxha Kollçaku Vetëvendosje Hatixhe Hoxha Vetëvendosje 0 0.00
Invalid/blank votes — Invalid/blank votes 1 1.56
Total ballots cast 66 Total ballots cast 64 100% —
Registered voters/turnout 120 55.0% Registered voters/turnout 120 53.3%
Source: [56][57]

Aftermath

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First aftermath

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A fresh election was held on 28 December in which Vetëvendosje won nearly a majority in parliament, effectively ending the deadlock as Albulena Haxhiu was voted as the next Assembly Speaker by a majority of 66 lawmakers on 11 February 2026.[58][59] Later that day, Albin Kurti's third cabinet was approved, including nine nominees from the previous failed attempts.[44]

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Diaspora" portfolio was also added.
  2. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Economic Cooperation" portfolio was also added.
  3. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Forestry and Rural Development" portfolio was also added.
  4. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Tourism" portfolio was also added.
  5. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Mining" portfolio was also added.
  6. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Economy" portfolio was also added.
  7. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Transport" portfolio was also added.
  8. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Youth" portfolio was also added.
  9. ↑ In the second nomination, the "Industry and European Integration" portfolio was also added.

References

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  1. ↑ "Sot tentohet për herë të 34 konstituimi i Kuvendit të Kosovës, s'ka sinjale për dalje nga ngërçi". Gazeta Express (in Albanian). 19 June 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Vatovci, Isa (27 March 2025). "Certifikimi i rezultatit të zgjedhjeve, Bekim Kupina: Presidentja do të thërrasë seancën konstituive të Kuvendit brenda afatit kushtetues". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  3. ↑ Isufi, Antigonë; Xhema, Shqipron (15 April 2025). "Ndërpritet seanca konstituive e Kuvendit të Kosovës". Kallxo (in Albanian).
  4. ↑ Isufi, Antigonë (15 April 2025). "Ndërprerja e seancës konstituive: Çka tutje?". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sot vazhdon seanca për zgjedhjen e Kryetarit të Kuvendit". Kallxo (in Albanian). 21 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Isufi, Antigonë; Xhema, Shqipron (19 April 2025). "Haxhiu dështon të zgjidhet kryeparlamentare, seanca konstituive vazhdon të hënën". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "LIVE: Dimal Basha zgjidhet kryeparlamentar". KOHA.net (in Albanian). 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Ngërçi merr fund në Kuvend, Basha zë ulësen e kryetarit". TËVË 1 (in Albanian). 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ngërçi në Kuvend nuk zhbllokohet as pas përpjekjes së 15-të". Radio Evropa e Lirë (in Albanian). 13 May 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kosovo Faces Deepening Political Crisis After 21 Failed Attempts To Elect Speaker". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Express, Gazeta (27 June 2025). "Haxhiu: If I do not receive at least 61 votes, I will withdraw from my candidacy for Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly". Gazeta Express. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Bami, Xhorxhina (27 June 2025). "Kosovo PM Seeks Consensus as Court Orders End to Parliament Deadlock". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  13. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/preliminary-results-show-kosovo-prime-minister-kurtis-party-won-snap-vote-with-clear-margin
  14. ↑ Bami, Xhorxhina (27 June 2025). "Kosovo PM Seeks Consensus as Court Orders End to Parliament Deadlock". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  15. 1 2 "One week from the Constitutional deadline for the constitution of the Assembly". KOHA.net. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  16. ↑ ""The deadlines are running out", the 41st attempt to constitute the Assembly". Telegrafi. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Sulaj, Agim (17 June 2025). "Disa qytetarë kundërshtojnë me protestë bllokadën e Kuvendit të Kosovës". Anadolu Agency (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Protesta e veteranëve të UÇK, nisen drejt Kuvendit të Kosovës mjete të blinduara". www.balkanweb.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Zh, Xh (3 July 2025). "Kuvendi i Kosovës dështon të konstituohet për herë të 41-të, shoqëria civile proteston para institucionit". Vizion Plus. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Kosovë/ Avokati sjell në Kuvend 4 gomerë: Simbolizojnë kryeneçësinë e politikanëve (VIDEO) - Shqiptarja.com". shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  21. ↑ Express, Gazeta (19 July 2025). "Reçica does not declare for Limaj, says Albin Kurti will not give him the post of Speaker of Parliament". Gazeta Express. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  22. ↑ "Kosovo Government Remains in Limbo as Parliament Hits Stalemate". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  23. ↑ Bami, Xhorxhina (8 August 2025). "Kosovo Court Gives MPs 30 More Days to Inaugurate Parliament". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Constitutional Court rules on blockade in Parliament". KOHA.net. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  25. ↑ "LAJMI I FUNDIT: Dështon edhe njëherë Albulena Haxhiu për t'u bërë kryetare e Kuvendit". Veriu.info (in Albanian). 20 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Opozita nuk e mbështet Donika Gërvallën/ Dështon tentativa e dytë për zgjedhjen e kryetares së Kuvendit". Indeksonline (in Albanian). 20 August 2025.
  27. ↑ "Dështon propozimi i ri i LVV-së, as Hekuran Murati nuk i merr votat e mjaftueshme për kryeparlamentar". Kallxo.com (in Albanian). 22 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Hekuran Murati dështon të zgjidhet kryetar Kuvendi". Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "Edhe kandidatura e dytë e propozuar nga VV-ja, Arbërie Nagavci, dështon të zgjedhet kryekuvendare". Gazetablic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Edhe deputeti tjetër nga VV, Dimal Basha, dështon të zgjedhet kryeparlamentar". Gazetablic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  31. ↑ "Dimal Basha zgjidhet kryetar i Kuvendit të Kosovës". Deutsche Welle (in Albanian). 26 August 2025.
  32. ↑ "Kosova me kryetar të ri kuvendi, kriza vijon, nuk ka kompromis për nënkryetarin nga radhët serbe" [Kosovo with a new parliament speaker, the crisis continues, there is no compromise for the deputy speaker from the Serbian part]. A2 CNN (in Albanian). 26 August 2025.
  33. ↑ Isufi, Perparim (26 August 2025). "Kosovo Elects Parliament Speaker, But Deadlock Continues". Prishtina Insight. Retrieved 9 June 2026. Basha maintained that the same rule applies for the election of the deputy speakers, but Srpska Lista's MP Igor Simic did not agree and insisted on Slavko Simic's candidacy.
  34. ↑ Bami, Xhorxhina (10 October 2025). "Kosovo's Parliament Ends Deadlock, But Solution Is Swiftly Disputed". Prishtina Insight. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  35. ↑ "Kosovo Faces Political Uncertainty as Serb List Appeals to Constitutional Court". Euronews Albania. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026. This party, the largest representing Serbs in Kosovo, filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court against the election of the Serb deputy speaker, Nenad Rašić, claiming that constitutional and procedural violations occurred.
  36. ↑ Brahimi, Marigona (28 January 2026). "The Constitutional Court upholds the Serbian List, declares the election of Nenad Rašić unconstitutional". KOHA. Retrieved 8 June 2026. According to the judgment, the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly were violated, as Rašić was not proposed by the majority of deputies from the Serbian community. The judgment also states that the Serbian List, as a majority from the Serbian community, did not use the unblocking mechanisms to constitute the Assembly.
  37. ↑ "Constitutional Court Rules on the Election of the Deputy Speaker: Rashiq Not Proposed by Serbian Majority, Position Belongs to Them". RKS. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026. The Court reviewed the procedural history, noting that multiple proposed candidates from the Serbian community failed to obtain the necessary majority votes in successive rounds. Ultimately, the Assembly's procedure allowed the final candidate, Nenad Rašić, to be voted upon via the established lottery mechanism. Rašić received 71 votes in favor, 9 against, and 24 abstentions.
  38. ↑ "Basha Rejects Constitutional Court Verdict on Nenad Rašić's Election as Deputy Speaker". RKS. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026. He further criticized the Court for interpreting the Assembly's Rules, which, according to him, falls outside its mandate. Basha cited Article 16, paragraph 4 of the Rules, noting that the Speaker has the final authority to interpret them during plenary sessions.
  39. ↑ "Full Ruling Released: Rashiq's Election Unconstitutional, Assembly Constituted Only After Election of All Deputy Speakers". RKS. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026. Regarding the specific case, the representative of the Serbian community had verbally and in writing submitted nine nominations for Deputy Speaker from the Serbian List. These candidates participated in the vote, including the vote against Nenad Rashiq. Therefore, the Court concluded that the conditions for activating the lottery mechanism were not met.
  40. 1 2 "Constitutional Court Ruling: Serb Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Must Be Proposed by the Majority of Serb MPs". RKS. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026. This means the ruling does not apply to decisions taken prior to its entry into force, but only to future cases.
  41. ↑ "Kosovo Assembly Constituted Following Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers". RKS. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026. The Assembly approved the appointments with 104 votes in favour, 3 votes against, and 6 abstentions, completing the formation of the parliamentary leadership and formally constituting the Assembly of Kosovo's 10th Legislature.
  42. ↑ "No vote for "Kurti 3", the country heads towards extraordinary elections". Koha Ditore. 26 October 2025.
  43. ↑ "Konjufca dështon të marrë votat për Qeveri, vendi drejt zgjedhjeve" [Konjufca fails to get votes for Government, country heads towards elections]. Betimi për Drejtësi (in Albanian). 19 November 2025.
  44. 1 2 "Kabineti i Kurti 3 pritet të shkojë në 19 ministri (VIDEO)" [Kurti's 3rd cabinet is expected to include 19 ministries (VIDEO)] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 10 February 2026.
  45. ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo" (PDF). Republic of Kosovo. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  46. ↑ Bytyci, Fatos (5 March 2026). "Kosovo's parliament fails to elect president, risking new election". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  47. ↑ Bytyci, Fatos (6 March 2026). "Kosovo president dissolves parliament, calls snap election after failed presidential vote". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  48. ↑ Bytyci, Fatos (10 March 2026). "Court bars Kosovo president from announcing snap election date". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  49. ↑ "Constitutional Court rules that parliament has another month to elect the President". European Western Balkans. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  50. ↑ "Osmani ends mandate, Haxhiu becomes acting president". Koha. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  51. ↑ "Kuvendi thërret seancë për zgjedhjen e presidentit". Insajderi. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  52. ↑ ""Show propagandues" – Abdixhiku i prerë: S'marrim pjesë në seancën për president". Insajderi. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  53. ↑ "As PDK s'merr pjesë në seancën për presidentin, Hamza: Jo serioze". Indeksonline. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  54. ↑ "Besnik Tahiri: AAK nuk merr pjesë në seancën për presidentin". Indeksonline. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  55. ↑ "Political impasse in Kosovo, June 7th announced as date for new elections". Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "S'ka kuorum, dështon votimi i presidentit". IndeksOnline. 5 March 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  57. ↑ "Dështon sërish zgjedhja e presidentit, vetëm 64 deputetë morën pjesë". Indeksonline. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  58. ↑ Delauney, Guy (29 December 2025). "Kosovo's ruling party wins election after months of political deadlock". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  59. ↑ Express, Gazeta (11 February 2026). "After dozens of failures last year, Albulena Haxhiu is elected president of the new legislature with 66 votes in favor". Gazeta Express. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
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