Kosovo’s left-wing ethnic Albanian nationalist prime minister is hoping for a renewed mandate as citizens of Europe’s youngest country cast their ballots in parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Premier Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination (LVV) party and their partners won a landslide victory four years ago but, although they have a strong lead in recent opinion polls, it appears unlikely they will get enough seats to govern alone.
The two other major parties – both leaning further to the right – are Lumir Abdixhiku’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose candidate for prime minister is Memli Krasniqi.
Kurti’s rule has been marked by a sharp increase in tension with the Serbian minority in Kosovo, the country’s creeping isolation from international partners, alongside some economic progress.
“These elections will be different to previous ones. The race is competitive because all three biggest parties are aiming for government,” Violeta Haxholli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute think tank told the Balkan Insight website.
“It will be also a more equal race because now all three parties have some background [in power] as all of them have led the government at different times,” she said.
During the election campaign the parties have made large pledges to increase public salaries and pensions, improve education and health services, and fight poverty, the AP news agency reported, adding that many of the promises had not been costed.
The two other major parties – both leaning further to the right – are Lumir Abdixhiku’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose candidate for prime minister is Memli Krasniqi.
Kurti’s rule has been marked by a sharp increase in tension with the Serbian minority in Kosovo, the country’s creeping isolation from international partners, alongside some economic progress.
“These elections will be different to previous ones. The race is competitive because all three biggest parties are aiming for government,” Violeta Haxholli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute think tank told the Balkan Insight website.
“It will be also a more equal race because now all three parties have some background [in power] as all of them have led the government at different times,” she said.
During the election campaign the parties have made large pledges to increase public salaries and pensions, improve education and health services, and fight poverty, the AP news agency reported, adding that many of the promises had not been costed.
Tensions with Serbs
Over the last few years, tensions between Kosovo’s central government and its Serb minority have mounted. Although more that 90% of Kosovo’s 1.6 million residents are ethnic Albanians, Serbs make up the majority in some northern municipalities.
Neighboring Serbia, which considers Kosovo a part of its territory and does not recognize Pristina’s independence, retains considerable influence in ethnic Serb communities.
During his rule, Kurti has sought to deepen the central government’s hold over the north.
He has deployed security forces to close so-called parallel institutions – Serbian-funded organizations including banks, and pension and benefits bodies – with the most recent such raid taking place in January, RFE/RL reported.
Other developments led to fears of a return to large-scale violence.
Major unrest followed local elections in April 2023, when ethnic Albanian mayors were installed in Serb-majority municipalities after local Serbs boycotted the polls. Later that year, a policeman and three ethnic Serb gunmen died in an assault on the village of Banjska, eventually barricading themselves in a monastery.
Kurti’s actions in the north have incurred the wrath of the European Union and criticism from the U.S.
Officials in Brussels have blamed the Kurti government for stoking ethnic tensions and have curbed funding. Sources told Reuters that the cuts have impacted more than a dozen projects totaling at least €150 million, including a sewage treatment plant and a concert hall renovation.
Political analyst Agon Maliqi said that the country’s increasing isolation could drive some voters to support candidates other than Kurti.
“While most voters may be pleased that Kosovo has more control over the north, many might not be convinced that this is sustainable without international support,” he told Reuters.
The PDK’s Vlora Citaku, a former Kosovan ambassador to the United States, said that a change is needed.
“Kosovo is isolated and penalized by the international community. Every major success that we have achieved in the last two decades – liberation, independence – has been achieved because we worked closely with allies.”
But Kurti has defended his actions.
“We have not done this against the Serbs: we have done it against Serbia because it is against Kosovo and our nation,” he said in a campaign speech last month.
Local media said the election campaign has been combative, with accusations being thrown in all directions, mainly by the ruling camp.
Judges issued fines totaling €400,000 for campaign violations, mainly in relation to hate speech and the irregular placement of campaign material in public places, Balkan Insight reported.
Eligible voters will be able to select their representatives in the 120-member parliamentary assembly from a total of 26 political groupings, plus one independent candidate, AP reported. Twenty seats are designated for ethnic minority candidates, including 10 for Serbs.
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Neighboring Serbia, which considers Kosovo a part of its territory and does not recognize Pristina’s independence, retains considerable influence in ethnic Serb communities.
During his rule, Kurti has sought to deepen the central government’s hold over the north.
He has deployed security forces to close so-called parallel institutions – Serbian-funded organizations including banks, and pension and benefits bodies – with the most recent such raid taking place in January, RFE/RL reported.
Other developments led to fears of a return to large-scale violence.
Major unrest followed local elections in April 2023, when ethnic Albanian mayors were installed in Serb-majority municipalities after local Serbs boycotted the polls. Later that year, a policeman and three ethnic Serb gunmen died in an assault on the village of Banjska, eventually barricading themselves in a monastery.
Increased isolation
Kurti’s actions in the north have incurred the wrath of the European Union and criticism from the U.S.
Officials in Brussels have blamed the Kurti government for stoking ethnic tensions and have curbed funding. Sources told Reuters that the cuts have impacted more than a dozen projects totaling at least €150 million, including a sewage treatment plant and a concert hall renovation.
Political analyst Agon Maliqi said that the country’s increasing isolation could drive some voters to support candidates other than Kurti.
“While most voters may be pleased that Kosovo has more control over the north, many might not be convinced that this is sustainable without international support,” he told Reuters.
The PDK’s Vlora Citaku, a former Kosovan ambassador to the United States, said that a change is needed.
“Kosovo is isolated and penalized by the international community. Every major success that we have achieved in the last two decades – liberation, independence – has been achieved because we worked closely with allies.”
But Kurti has defended his actions.
“We have not done this against the Serbs: we have done it against Serbia because it is against Kosovo and our nation,” he said in a campaign speech last month.
Combative campaign
Local media said the election campaign has been combative, with accusations being thrown in all directions, mainly by the ruling camp.
Judges issued fines totaling €400,000 for campaign violations, mainly in relation to hate speech and the irregular placement of campaign material in public places, Balkan Insight reported.
Eligible voters will be able to select their representatives in the 120-member parliamentary assembly from a total of 26 political groupings, plus one independent candidate, AP reported. Twenty seats are designated for ethnic minority candidates, including 10 for Serbs.
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
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