Former U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier has commented on the ongoing efforts to form a government in Kosovo, suggesting that both the opposition parties and the ruling party have coalition-building options.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council, Hovenier stated that a coalition between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with representatives from minority communities is a possible scenario. Meanwhile, the ruling party, Vetëvendosje (LVV), could also attempt to form a government with the support of minority representatives.
“In any parliamentary democracy, coalition-building is both a political art and a matter of arithmetic. You need to count the seats you have, the seats your potential partners hold, and how many are needed to form a majority,” Hovenier explained. “In Kosovo, the magic number is 61 seats to secure a majority in the Assembly and form a government.”
According to preliminary results, which are still being counted, Vetëvendosje is expected to secure around 47 or 48 seats. Kosovo’s parliament reserves 20 seats for minority communities—10 for the Serb community and 10 for other ethnic groups.
“If these numbers hold and Vetëvendosje secures more than 40 seats, they could potentially reach 61 with the support of minority representatives,” Hovenier said. “At the same time, PDK, LDK, and AAK, together with some minority representatives, could also reach 61 seats. It is possible, but it would be a fragile coalition.”
Hovenier noted that political parties often send mixed signals during coalition negotiations. “Parties engage in coalition talks for various reasons, including strategic messaging,” he added.
