Kosovo holds a snap parliamentary election on Sunday after months of political deadlock that left the country under a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his Self-Determination Movement.
Kurti’s party, which won the February election with about 42% of the vote, failed twice to form a government due to a lack of coalition partners, paving the way for early elections.
A total of 24 political parties and coalitions are contesting the vote, with more than 1,000 candidates competing for the 120-seat parliament. A party or coalition needs at least 61 seats to form a government.
Self-Determination has said it aims to win more than 50% of the vote to avoid post-election coalitions. Major rivals – the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) – are seeking to block another Kurti-led government, though none has said whether they would work together.
Analysts say Self-Determination has adopted a noticeably softer tone toward the media and political opponents compared with the February campaign.
“This shift is directly linked to the need for coalitions,” said Donika Emini, a senior researcher at the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “A more moderate approach helps prepare the ground for post-election cooperation.”
Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri said the party’s rhetoric would depend on the outcome. “If Self-Determination posts a very strong result, it will likely return to its sharper, more polarising rhetoric,” he said.
Budget uncertainty
The political stalemate has also prevented Kosovo from passing a state budget for next year, raising concerns about institutional paralysis and financial risks. In the absence of an approved budget, the country will operate on provisional financing, using one-twelfth of this year’s budget for each of the first two months of 2026.
Prolonged failure to reach a political agreement has also put funding from the European Union’s Growth Plan at risk, along with millions of euros in World Bank-backed projects that require ratification of key laws.
Strained ties with international partners
The year was also marked by controversial actions by the caretaker government in northern Kosovo, where the population is predominantly Serb, which international actors described as uncoordinated. Authorities closed several Serbia-run institutions operating under the Serbian system, steps Kurti’s government says are necessary to uphold the rule of law.
In September, the United States said it was halting its strategic dialogue with Kosovo before it officially began, citing concerns that the caretaker government’s actions had increased tensions and instability, limiting Washington’s ability to work productively with Kosovo on shared priorities.
In a written statement to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Dec. 17, the U.S. embassy said it would seek to work closely with the elected government after the vote. Kurti has said relations with Washington “have never been better,” a view disputed by analysts.
Artan Muhaxhiri said ties with the United States “have never been more damaged,” while Donika Emini accused Kurti of using antagonism toward the U.S. and the European Union in recent years “for electoral and political gain.”
Voters and stakes
More than 2 million citizens are eligible to vote, including those living abroad. Diaspora voters were able to cast ballots by mail or in person at embassies and consulates on Dec. 27.
Voter turnout in the February election was about 46%, including diaspora votes, compared with more than 48% in the 2021 election. Analysts say turnout could be higher this time, as many members of the diaspora return home during the holiday period.
The vote will determine the composition of the 120-seat parliament, where 10 seats are reserved for the Serb community and 10 for other non-majority communities.
The outcome is expected to determine whether Kosovo can break the political deadlock or face a new period of institutional uncertainty.