The international news agency Reuters has dedicated an article to the latest political developments in Kosovo, noting that Albin Kurti has been re-elected prime minister, but the country could face early elections again if the Assembly fails to elect a new president.
Kurti was elected to the government with 62 votes in the 120-seat Kosovo Assembly. Before the vote, he said the new mandate would focus on strengthening security and increasing the well-being of citizens. “This mandate is about strongly restoring security and prosperity for citizens,” Kurti said, adding that repeated elections have hindered the normal functioning of institutions.
Reuters points out that the next challenge for Kosovo's institutions is the election of a president. In late August, Kurti reached an agreement with the Democratic League of Kosovo to support Professor Bekim Sejdiu for the post of president. However, just a day later, six LDK MPs declared that they would not support the party leadership's decision.
A two-thirds majority of MPs is required to elect a president. If the Assembly fails to elect a new president within constitutional procedures, Kosovo could face another snap election. This would be the fourth time in just two years that the country has faced such an election.
According to Reuters, political instability has delayed reforms and affected Kosovo's access to European Union funds. Kosovo, one of Europe's poorest countries, is aiming for EU membership, while Brussels has consistently demanded stable and functional institutions to implement the necessary reforms.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance boycotted the Assembly session, warning that they will turn to the Constitutional Court to review whether legal procedures were violated during the constitution of the Assembly. The LDK also did not participate in the vote on the new government.
In this situation, Kurti's return to the post of prime minister has not fully resolved the institutional crisis in Kosovo, as the battle to elect the president could determine whether the country will manage to avoid another electoral process.
