UPDATE: Kosovo’s Parliament has just ended an eight-month political deadlock by electing its full leadership, including a crucial representative from the ethnic Serb minority, paving the way for the formation of a new government. This critical vote took place on October 6, 2023, and marks a significant breakthrough in Kosovo’s ongoing political crisis.
In a decisive vote, Nenad Rasic from the small ethnic Serb party, For Freedom, Justice and Survival, was elected as deputy speaker with 71 votes in favor. This vote was essential as the constitution mandates the inclusion of a Serb representative in the leadership. The main Serb party, Srpska Lista, which holds nine out of ten seats reserved for the ethnic Serb minority, opposed the election, with all nine lawmakers voting against and 24 members from two smaller right-wing ethnic Albanian parties abstaining.
The breakthrough follows a recent ruling by Kosovo’s Constitutional Court, which urged lawmakers to resolve their prolonged stalemate within 12 days. The political impasse began after inconclusive elections on February 9, 2023, leaving a government urgently needed to address Kosovo’s economic challenges and restart stalled discussions on normalization with Serbia.
Albin Kurti, leader of the left-wing Self-Determination Movement (Vetevendosje!), won 48 seats out of 120 in Parliament, a drop from 58 seats in the previous election. Despite being the largest party, Kurti’s coalition options remain limited, as both he and main opposition groups have ruled out forming a coalition. He now has 15 days to form a Cabinet, which must be approved by Parliament. Failure to secure a government could trigger early elections.
The urgency of establishing a new government is amplified by upcoming municipal elections scheduled for October 12, 2023. Kosovo’s political climate remains tense due to its history, with around 11,400 fatalities reported from the 1998-1999 conflict, primarily among the ethnic Albanian majority. The NATO air campaign that followed ended the fighting and forced Serbian forces out, yet Kosovo’s status remains contentious, with Serbia and its allies, including Russia and China, refusing to recognize its independence declared in 2008.
As Kosovo navigates these turbulent waters, the international community watches closely. A new government is vital not only for domestic stability but also for advancing Kosovo’s negotiations with Serbia, facilitated by the European Union.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.