19 October, 2025
kosovo-parliament-elects-leadership-paving-way-for-new-government

UPDATE: Kosovo’s Parliament has just ended an **eight-month political deadlock**, electing its full leadership and paving the way for a new government. The decisive vote took place on **October 6, 2023**, marking a crucial step in stabilizing the region amid ongoing tensions.

In a landmark decision, **Nenad Rasic** from the **For Freedom, Justice and Survival** party was elected deputy speaker with **71 votes in favor**. This vote fulfills a constitutional requirement for representation from the ethnic Serb minority, which had been unresolved since **August**. Notably, all nine members of the main Serb party, **Srpska Lista**, opposed the election, while 24 lawmakers from two smaller right-wing ethnic Albanian parties abstained.

The breakthrough follows a ruling by Kosovo’s Constitutional Court, urging lawmakers to resolve the impasse within **12 days**. This comes after inconclusive elections on **February 9**, where **Vetevendosje!**, led by acting Prime Minister **Albin Kurti**, secured **48 seats** out of 120 but fell short of the **61 votes** needed to govern independently. Kurti’s party, alongside the opposition, has consistently rejected coalition possibilities.

With Kurti now mandated to form a Cabinet within **15 days**, the pressure is on as failure to achieve this could trigger early elections. Kosovo urgently requires a functioning government to address pressing economic issues and revive stalled negotiations with Serbia, facilitated by the **European Union**.

As the situation escalates, municipal elections are set for **October 12**, adding further urgency to the political landscape. The backdrop of the **1998-1999 war**, which resulted in around **11,400 deaths** predominantly among Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority, still looms large, complicating relations with Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence declared in **2008**.

The election of Rasic is seen as a double-edged sword; while it fulfills a legal requirement, it also raises concerns among Kosovo’s Albanians about potential ethnic tensions, given Srpska Lista’s close ties to Serbian President **Aleksandar Vucic**.

As this story develops, the international community watches closely, with Kosovo’s political stability remaining a critical factor in the broader Balkan region.

Stay tuned for updates as Kosovo navigates this pivotal moment in its quest for governance and stability.