Kosovo Heads to Polls in High-Stakes Election to Break Year-Long Deadlock

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Kosovo Heads to Polls in High-Stakes Election to Break Year-Long Deadlock

PRISTINA — Citizens across Kosovo are casting ballots today, Sunday, December 28, 2025, in a critical snap parliamentary election. This vote marks the country’s second trip to the polls this year as it attempts to dissolve a crippling political impasse that has left the nation without a functional government for nearly ten months.

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Why This Election Matters

The stalemate began following the February 9, 2025 elections. Although Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party secured a significant lead, they fell short of a majority. Subsequent months of failed coalition talks and legislative gridlock have had real-world consequences:

  • Financial Paralysis: Because parliament could not convene effectively, over €1 billion in international aid and development loans from the EU and World Bank remain unratified and inaccessible.
  • Diplomatic Friction: Tensions with Western allies have simmered over the government’s approach to northern Kosovo, a central theme in opposition campaigns.
  • Institutional Risk: Following the dissolution of parliament in November, today’s vote is seen as the “last chance” to form a government before the constitutional deadline to elect a new president in April 2026.

The Major Contenders

PartyLeadershipCore Platform
Vetëvendosje (VV)Albin KurtiAnti-corruption, sovereignty, and public sector wage hikes.
PDK / LDKOpposition BlocEconomic recovery and repairing international relations.
Minority PartiesEthnic RepresentativesGuaranteed representation for Serbs and other minorities.

What to Watch For

Polls are set to close at 7:00 PM local time. The central question is whether Kurti can achieve an absolute majority or if the opposition parties will gain enough ground to force a new coalition—one that excludes the current Prime Minister.

International observers are monitoring the turnout closely, particularly in the north, as a barometer for regional stability.

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