AP: Kosovo heads to third election in 18 months, voter frustration grows over political deadlock

The American news agency Associated Press writes today that Kosovo is heading to its third parliamentary election in 18 months tomorrow, while "frustration over the ongoing political stalemate is growing in the small Balkan country that is striving to move closer to the European Union and NATO."

The agency explains that the reason for these elections is that the main political parties in Kosovo failed to agree by March on who should replace former Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

"As key players blamed each other for the crisis, their inability to reach a compromise has fueled disillusionment among two million voters who want the government to focus instead on the economy and living standards," AP writes, adding that citizens the agency spoke to say they are certain that "the same scenario will be repeated" after tomorrow's elections.

The first elections in February 2025, which produced no convincing winner, left Kosovo without a functioning government for much of last year, leading to a second election in December, AP reminds.

European Council President Antonio Costa this week called on Kosovo to end the political stalemate and unite around the goal of EU integration.

"The European Union can support Kosovo, but it cannot do Kosovo's homework," said Kosta in Pristina, underlining that "Kosovo needs strong, stable and functional institutions, capable of implementing reforms and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the European Union."

AP writes that the head of the Self-Determination party and Prime Minister Albin Kurti called on voters to give him another chance tomorrow and accused opposition parties of "creating an artificial crisis" and forcing a repeat election despite the "strong and clear will of the people."

Opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo, in turn accused Kurti of wanting to impose complete control over all political institutions, AP writes.

Osmani, the former president, is now running on the LDK list against Kurti, her former ally, after he refused to support her for a second term, it added.

She said at a closing rally in Pristina on Friday that Kurti's policies "built walls between people and fueled divisions."

"We have seen politics that have no other vision than total control," Osmani said.

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri said, AP reports, that he does not expect a "tectonic shift" from tomorrow's elections compared to the previous elections, when Kurti's party won more than 50 percent of the vote.

The political stalemate will continue, Muhajiri predicted, because "there are no indications that political leaders are ready to change their previous positions and reduce the existing gap."

The prolonged crisis has already affected Kosovo's economy, which has been hit hard by the global energy crisis and rising fuel prices. The institutional vacuum has also delayed access to EU and other international funds, the Associated Press concluded.