Kosovo parliament approves Kurti government after three-month deadlock

September 13, 2026 at 09:11 PM2 min

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Kosovo's parliament approved a new government led by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti with 62 votes in the 120-seat assembly on Sunday. The vote ends three months of government paralysis but leaves unresolved a constitutional standoff over the presidency. The approval comes even as six opposition lawmakers rejected their party's deal to back a presidential candidate.

Key Facts

The new government was backed by 62 lawmakers out of Kosovo's 120-seat assembly, Parliamentary Speaker Albulena Haxhiu said Sunday.
Kurti's Vetevendosje party needs opposition support to secure the two-thirds majority required to elect a president.
If parliament fails to elect a new president, Kosovo will have to hold another snap election, the fourth in only two years.
In late August, Kurti reached a deal with the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which has 18 MPs, to back law professor Bekim Sejdiu as president.
A day later, six LDK lawmakers said they would not respect their leader's decision.

Government Approval

Kosovo's parliament approved a new government led by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Sunday. The vote was supported by 62 lawmakers in the 120-seat assembly, according to Parliamentary Speaker Albulena Haxhiu. The approval breaks three months of government paralysis that followed three legislative elections since February 2025. Kurti's Vetevendosje party won those elections, including two snap polls in December 2025 and June 2026, but lacked the votes to install a president.

Presidential Standoff

The new government faces a constitutional showdown over the presidency, which requires a two-thirds majority in parliament. In late August, Kurti reached a deal with the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which holds 18 seats, to back law professor Bekim Sejdiu as president. A day later, six LDK lawmakers said they would not respect their leader's decision, leaving the presidential vote uncertain. If parliament fails to elect a president, Kosovo will hold its fourth snap election in two years.

Political and Economic Fallout

The domestic deadlock is closely linked to Kurti's hardline approach towards neighbouring Serbia, which has strained his standing at home and abroad. Opposition parties have blamed Kurti for alienating Kosovo's Western backers through unilateral measures in the Serb-dominated north. The United States and the EU previously urged Kurti to de-escalate tensions following deadly clashes between Kosovar police and armed Serbian paramilitary formations. Months of paralysis have stalled legislative reforms required for EU integration, threatening Kosovo's access to some pre-accession funds.