As if one set of early elections last December and a full legislative year lost – as was 2025 – were not enough, political parties in Kosovo risk launching another election campaign within weeks, as they are failing to reach consensus on a name for the country’s president.
Only five days remain until the final deadline for the Assembly of Kosovo to vote on the new president. Otherwise, under the Constitution, the Assembly is dissolved and new elections are called.
Current President Vjosa Osmani’s five-year mandate expires on April 4, but the Assembly must vote for the new presidential mandate no later than March 4.
The president has made her intention for another term known, but she appears to lack the necessary votes.
She won her first mandate with the proposal of the ruling party, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje (LVV), but the party is no longer mentioning her name. Opposition parties have at times criticized her for being aligned in favor of LVV and do not appear willing to support her for another term.
However, these parties are also not mentioning other potential names for the position.
So far, it is known that Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the ruling LVV, has held separate meetings with the leaders of the main opposition parties: Bedri Hamza of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Lumir Abdixhiku of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). No progress was made after the meetings.
Analyst Rrahman Paçarizi, professor at the Department of Journalism at the University of Prishtina, told Radio Free Europe that the lack of transparency raises doubts about the seriousness of political parties in electing a new president on time.
“Perhaps there is a hidden will among political parties, including the largest one, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, for the country to go to elections again,” Paçarizi said.
No party has publicly mentioned names, although PDK said days ago that it has one, without identifying the candidate. Kurti recently claimed he is making “every effort” to avoid early elections but did not reveal his candidate or whether he would support President Osmani.
Who has been mentioned for the position?
For days, there was speculation that a member of the family of national hero Adem Jashari could become head of state, including suggestions from Deputy Prime Minister Glauk Konjufca.
However, members of that family have made it clear to the media that they have no ambition for the position.
Unlike them, former Minister of Public Administration and Education, Arsim Bajrami, has expressed readiness to become president.
Similarly, weeks ago, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, also expressed willingness, but other parties have not offered support.
To propose a presidential candidate, at least 30 MPs’ signatures are required, while LVV alone holds 57 seats.
To elect a candidate, at least 80 votes are needed in one of the first two rounds, or 61 votes in the third round, out of a total of 120 MPs.
What are the chances of an agreement?
There are reports that Kurti may meet again with Hamza and Abdixhiku on Friday in an effort to reach an agreement.
According to Paçarizi, the chances do not look very promising.
“There is a chance they may agree, but as long as we have not had public meetings between opposition party leaders to coordinate or agree on a name to put on Mr. Kurti’s table… it does not seem that there can be an agreement today.”
However, he does not rule out that a possible Friday meeting could produce “movement forward, agreement on principles, at a time when the Jashari family has refused and when we do not know Kurti’s approach toward President Osmani.”
According to him, more than anything, the issue is complicated by the lack of coordination among opposition parties on a name they could present to Prime Minister Kurti.
“I fear that coordination between PDK and LDK over a candidate is more difficult than Kurti accepting a consensual candidate agreed upon by opposition parties. I see the problem more within the opposition parties than in their relationship with Kurti in this regard,” he added.
Thus, Kosovo risks facing elections less than a month after forming a new Government.
This would be another blow for the country, as it would mark the second early elections within months.
Civil society organizations have called for such a process to be avoided, urging that citizens’ interests be placed above party interests.
