Kosovo will hold snap parliamentary elections on June 7, acting President Albulena Haxhiu said, after lawmakers failed to elect a new head of state within the constitutional deadline, triggering the dissolution of parliament.
The vote will be Kosovo’s third parliamentary election in about 18 months, deepening concerns over political instability, institutional paralysis and the country’s international credibility.
“After hearing the proposals of political parties and assessing constitutional deadlines, the organisational needs of the Central Election Commission and the importance of broad citizen participation, I have decided that early elections for the Kosovo Assembly will be held on June 7,” Haxhiu told a news conference.
The decision followed consultations with political parties. Most major parties, including the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, supported June 7 as the election date.
Failure to elect president
Kosovo’s parliament was dissolved after political parties failed to agree on a new president before the constitutional deadline.
The ruling Vetëvendosje movement of Prime Minister Albin Kurti put forward candidates, but opposition parties refused to participate in the vote, arguing that the presidency should not also fall under the control of the ruling party, which already held key institutional posts.
A valid presidential vote requires the presence of two-thirds of the 120-seat parliament.
EU concern
The European Union expressed regret that Kosovo’s political parties failed to agree on a unifying presidential figure and urged them to strengthen inter-party dialogue.
A spokesperson for the bloc warned that Kosovo risks missing opportunities linked to reforms and financial support, including those under the EU Growth Plan.
Analysts say the crisis could slow key reforms, delay European integration steps and damage Kosovo’s ability to act as a credible international partner.
“Systematic crisis”
Naim Rashiti, director of the Balkan Policy Group in Pristina, said Kosovo is facing a systematic political and institutional crisis.
“Early elections do not guarantee stability,” Rashiti said, warning that Kosovo is increasingly viewed by international partners as a fragile state unable to maintain functional institutions.
He said the country has lost credibility with key partners and risks being sidelined from European and regional agendas.
According to Rashiti, repeated institutional crises have weakened Kosovo’s state-building process and damaged confidence in its political class.
Financial and reform costs
Analysts warn that another election will also carry financial costs, with estimates suggesting the vote could cost around 10 million euros.
Naim Jakaj from the Kosovo Law Institute said the immediate consequence of the crisis is legislative paralysis.
Without a functioning parliament, he said, Kosovo cannot pass new laws or advance key reforms related to rule of law, European integration and international obligations.
Wider consequences
Rashiti warned that the crisis could affect Kosovo’s dialogue with Serbia and its relations with the EU, NATO and other international partners.
He said Kosovo currently lacks stable institutions capable of engaging seriously on long-term international agendas.
The June 7 election is expected to test whether Kosovo’s parties can break the cycle of repeated deadlock or whether the country will enter another phase of instability.