Thewesternbalkans.
The Kosovo parliament elected Albin Kurti as prime minister on February 11, for a third term. After 12 months as acting head of government, Kurti was confirmed as the new prime minister after his Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party won snap elections in December, ending a year-long political crisis in the country.
Kurti’s government was elected by a narrow majority and without the support of the Serb List – 66 MPs voted in favor of the government, 49 against, with no abstentions.
At an extraordinary session of parliament, the new old prime minister, Albin Kurti, announced salary increases, investments in the defense sector, and the creation of a new specialized prosecutor’s office to fight corruption.
In his speech to parliament before the vote, Kurti presented his legislative program, emphasizing the economy and increased defense investment at its core.
“During these years, as we have all witnessed, we have faced constant attacks and threats from Serbia,” he said, but pledged to “strive for the normalization of relations” with Belgrade. He said this meant “normalization between the two countries, as bilateral relations, not as interference in internal affairs,” noting that “the government will defend the Constitution and the law in every part of the country.”
Tensions in northern Kosovo, home to the majority of the ethnic Serb minority, have remained high since the war between Serbia and Kosovo in the 1990s.
Normalizing relations is a key requirement for both countries’ stated ambitions for EU membership. Kurti has already signaled his intention to move quickly as he seeks to approve key international loans for Kosovo, including from Brussels, which require a two-thirds majority. However, Brussels has its conditions: “What matters now is that it moves swiftly on reforms. This is the fastest way to unlock EU support worth hundreds of millions of euros and have progress on its EU path,” said Kaja Kallas on platform X in her congratulatory message for the formation of the government. There is another critical condition: “This is a new momentum to advance on EU-Kosovo relations and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. I am ready to host a high-level meeting soon,” continued Kallas.
The 2013 Brussels agreement provides for the establishment of an Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo. However, the government led by Vetevendosje has clearly stated that it is not interested in accommodating or working with the Serbian community. Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi announced shortly before the election of the new government, on February 6, that Kosovo would focus on the integration of the Serbian health and education systems in northern Kosovo. This will not please the Serbian community at all, which has clearly stated that it would not agree to be part of the notoriously bad Kosovo system. This means that this integration will be forced.
The election of a government marks the end of the political paralysis in Kosovo and is an important prerequisite for unblocking EU financial support. However, the unwillingness of the Kosovo government to comply with international treaties is a challenge to the EU and will not lead to normalization with Serbia. This means that the increased risk of violence and direct clashes between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo remains.
For now, however, the situation in Kosovo is the calm before the storm. On March 4, the Kosovo parliament begins the election of a new president. Albin Kurti has not yet named his favorite and no one knows who will become president. If three votes fail to elect a president, this means a new political crisis.
