Kosovo’s ruling political entity, Vetevendosje, appears poised to secure the highest number of votes in the recent parliamentary elections held on Sunday. However, an exit poll indicates that the party is unlikely to achieve a majority within the assembly.
According to projections from the Koha News portal, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje is set to obtain approximately 42% of the total votes. This outcome would correspond to 47 seats in the 120-member parliament.
Election Landscape
The centre-left party is anticipated to surpass its closest competitors: the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), which is projected to receive 21% of the votes, and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) at 20%. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) is expected to garner around 6% of the vote, according to the exit poll results.
Albin Kurti’s ascent to power in 2021 was marked by a coalition that commanded over 50% of the votes, securing a slender majority in parliament. His political popularity has been significantly bolstered by efforts to expand governmental authority over the predominantly ethnic-Serb northern regions of Kosovo.
Political Challenges Ahead
Despite Kurti’s electoral advantages, these actions have raised concerns among Kosovo’s primary supporters, including the European Union and the United States. Opposition factions are advocating for a more reconciliatory stance and have criticized the current administration’s economic policies.
The centre-right LDK has focused its campaign on advocating for NATO membership and the revival of relations with the United States. Meanwhile, the PDK, which also leans centre-right, has its roots in the former guerrilla movement of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“We are proud of the campaign and the election day. We await the results, but already we have reason to be optimistic,” said Vlora Citaku, deputy PDK leader.
Per Kosovo’s constitutional requirements, a minimum of 10 Members of Parliament must represent the Serb minority, a group unlikely to collaborate with Kurti’s party. Additionally, there are 10 reserved seats allocated for other minority ethnic groups, which have historically been more amenable to working with Vetevendosje, which means “self-determination” in English.
Kurti has previously stated his reluctance to partner with any opposition parties, which could complicate efforts to form a stable government. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 after prolonged tensions between its ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority. While Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by the United States and most key EU nations, Serbia, supported by Russia, continues to oppose this status, along with a significant portion of the ethnic Serb population within Kosovo.