Kosovo’s Snap Election: What the Vote Means for Democracy and Stability

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Key takeaways

  • Kosovo is holding a snap parliamentary election after months of political deadlock following the February 2025 vote.
  • Prime minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination (Vetëvendosje) party is favoured but may again fall short of a governing majority.
  • The country faces a looming budget crisis and an imminent presidential vote, raising the stakes for political stability.
  • Tensions with ethnic Serbs, relations with Serbia, and pressure from the EU and US shape the broader geopolitical context.
  • Voter frustration is high amid economic hardship and youth emigration fears in the country of around 2 million people.

Table of contents

Political background: How Kosovo reached a deadlock

Kosovo, a small Balkan nation that declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after the 1998–99 war and a NATO bombing campaign, is again at a political crossroads. The current snap election was triggered when prime minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) party failed to form a government despite winning the most votes in the 9 February 2025 election.

This impasse marked the first time since independence that Kosovo was unable to form a government. The core challenge: Vetëvendosje could not secure coalition partners among mainstream rivals, exposing deep mistrust between the parties.

Under Kosovo’s electoral law, 20 of the 120 parliamentary seats are reserved for ethnic Serbs and other minority communities, making coalition-building crucial even for the largest party.

What is at stake in this snap election?

The vote is more than a simple repeat of February’s contest. It will strongly influence:

  • Government formation: Another inconclusive result could prolong the crisis and erode public faith in institutions.
  • Budget approval: Kosovo has yet to approve its budget for next year, raising fears of instability in an already fragile economy.
  • Presidential elections: Parliament must elect a new president in March as Vjosa Osmani’s mandate ends in early April. Failure to do so could trigger another snap election.

Analysts note that small shifts in vote shares could prove decisive. In the last election, Vetëvendosje won about 42% of the vote, while the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo jointly took around 40%. Even marginal changes could reshape coalition math—and, by extension, the country’s direction.

Key political players and competing narratives

Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination), led by Albin Kurti, enters as the frontrunner. Kurti, a former political prisoner during Serbian rule, is popular for his anti-corruption stance and assertive national rhetoric. However, rivals accuse him of:

  • Authoritarian tendencies in decision-making.
  • Alienating key allies in the US and European Union since taking office in 2021.

The main opposition forces, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo, present themselves as more pragmatic and more aligned with Western partners. Their refusal to ally with Kurti has been central to the current stalemate.

Voter frustration is evident. One 71-year-old pensioner from Pristina, Ilmi Deliu, voiced a common fear: if politics does not change course, the country could, in his words, “end up in an abyss”.

Tensions with Serbia and EU-mediated talks

Relations with Serbia remain a defining fault line in Kosovo politics and regional security. The EU has been mediating talks aimed at normalising relations between Pristina and Belgrade, a precondition for both countries’ long-term ambitions to join the European Union.

Kurti has adopted a tough line in these negotiations. In response, the EU and US have imposed punitive measures, signalling concern about escalating tensions.

On the ground, friction with ethnic Serbs, particularly in northern Kosovo, has periodically turned violent. In 2023, clashes left scores of NATO-led peacekeepers injured. More recently, a municipal vote allowed ethnic Serb mayors to take office peacefully in the north—an encouraging step, but one that remains fragile.

At the same time, Kosovo’s decision to accept third-country migrants deported from the US—as part of tough anti-immigration measures under the Trump administration—illustrates how global politics increasingly shape domestic debates on sovereignty, migration, and security.

Economic pressures and why young people are leaving

Kosovo remains one of the poorest economies in Europe. High unemployment, limited industrial capacity, and a heavy reliance on remittances contribute to a sense of stagnation.

This economic pressure fuels emigration, particularly among the young. As Deliu put it, “Young people no longer want to live here.” For many families, the choice is stark: stay amid uncertainty, or seek work abroad.

Kurti has promised to boost security by purchasing more military equipment, reflecting concerns about regional instability. Yet for everyday citizens, tangible improvements in jobs, infrastructure, and services are likely to weigh more heavily at the ballot box.

What this means for citizens and the region

For Kosovars, the snap election is not just about party politics; it is about whether institutions can deliver:

  • A functioning government able to pass a budget on time.
  • A legitimately elected president chosen by parliament.
  • Credible progress toward EU integration and better relations with neighbours.

For the wider Balkans and Europe, Kosovo’s trajectory affects regional stability, NATO’s posture, and EU enlargement strategy. A prolonged crisis could embolden nationalist forces across the region, while a stable, reform-minded government could reinvigorate dialogue with Serbia and Brussels.

How to explore this topic further

If you want to dive deeper into Kosovo’s evolving political landscape and its relationship with Serbia, consider:

  • Comparing this election with previous votes to see how party support has shifted over time.
  • Exploring EU policy papers and regional think-tank reports on Kosovo–Serbia normalisation.
  • Following updates from independent Balkan-focused outlets and international organisations monitoring democracy and human rights.

For readers interested in geopolitics, this election is a live case study in how domestic fractures, international pressure, and unresolved conflicts interact in shaping a young democracy’s future.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/28/kosovo-goes-to-the-polls-in-snap-election-in-bid-to-end-political-crisis