Description: Incumbent Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and his Vetevendosje party managed to secure a significant lead ahead of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo. Vetevendosje secured 43% of the votes ahead of DPK’s 21.7% and DLK’s 18%, in Kosovo’s third parliamentary election since last year. The country was plunged into a prolonged political crisis as the Parliament failed to reach a consensus on who should succeed outgoing President Vjosa Osmani. This left Kosovo without a functioning government for over a year, backtracked economic development and EU and NATO accession plans.
Impact: Vetevendosje’s expected election triumph would likely provide a marginal stabilization of the country’s political landscape, however, securing a parliamentary majority for electing the next President could once again prove challenging. Kurti’s initial statements supporting interparty dialogue and cooperation are unlikely to resonate with the opposition, however, the dire economic situation and international pressure to resolve the crisis could likely prove determinant in the upcoming coalition majority negotiations. Kosovo would likely remain on the margins of the EU and NATO in the mid – term, due to the country’s ongoing dispute with Serbia, while policy measures in the corruption and graft sectors further downsize Kosovo’s prospects of EU and NATO integration. The political crisis would most likely be resolved in the short to mid – term, despite the opposition’s disapproval of Kurti’s policies and leadership status.