Kosovo's parliament failed Tuesday evening to elect a new president due to a lack of two-thirds quorum from the opposition's boycott. This ends the current legislature and paves the way for new legislative elections within a maximum of 45 days. Parliament President Albulena Haxhiu is to dissolve the assembly Wednesday morning.
The vote to elect Vjosa Osmani's successor, whose mandate expired in early April, could not take place Tuesday evening. Although a theoretical majority existed, the opposition's boycott prevented reaching the required two-thirds quorum. "This session marked the end of the current legislature. Elections will be called within the constitutional deadlines," Parliament President Albulena Haxhiu declared at midnight.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of Vetëvendosje in power since 2021, formed a government in February after snap December elections where his party won 57 of 120 seats, allied with minority representatives. He urged the opposition to "end the blockade" in afternoon press conferences. "Blockages help neither institutions nor the state. Blocking Kosovo leads nowhere," he lamented.
This is not the first crisis: a March failure led to a dissolution annulled by the Constitutional Court, which granted an extension expiring at midnight Tuesday. The presidency, honorary for five years, is currently interim by the parliament president. Kosovo, home to 1.6 million mostly Albanian inhabitants, declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
