Kosovo President Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Election After MPs Fail to Elect Head of State
PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani issued a decree on March 6 dissolving the country’s parliament and calling for early elections, a day after lawmakers failed to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline, according to statements from her office and multiple news reports .
The 120-seat assembly had until midnight on March 5 to choose a new head of state, but Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling Vetevendosje party was unable to secure the required quorum or rally opposition lawmakers behind its nominee, Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca . Parliamentary speaker Albulena Haxhiu adjourned the session shortly before midnight, stating that only 66 lawmakers were present, well below the 80 required to proceed with a vote .
President Announces Dissolution
In a press conference on March 6, President Osmani announced that she had signed a decree dissolving the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. She stated that Thursday night’s failure of parliamentarians to elect a president has pushed Kosovo to new elections, which will be the third parliamentary vote in just over a year .
Osmani said she would invite political leaders to a meeting later on March 6 to announce the date of the elections . Under the constitution, the outgoing president has another month in office .
The news of Osmani’s decision quickly drew attention from international media outlets, including Reuters and RFI .
Political Reactions
Opposition party leaders responded to the dissolution by placing responsibility for the institutional deadlock on the ruling party.
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku said he supports the president’s decree to dissolve the parliament and expressed his willingness to participate in consultations to set the election date . In a Facebook post, Abdixhiku accused the Vetevendosje Movement of attempting to seize state positions.
“Elections were never the LDK’s preferred alternative. On the contrary, they were completely unnecessary and easily avoidable,” Abdixhiku wrote. “Unfortunately, the appetite for a single-party capture of all state positions prevented any eventual compromise” .
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Secretary General Vlora Çitaku said that responsibility for the failure of the presidential election lies with the Vetevendosje Movement . She accused the party of, as she said, unbridled ambition for total control of institutions.
“Political egos and the unbridled ambition for total control of institutions by the LVV are leaving Kosovo again without institutions and pushing the country towards another election cycle,” Çitaku wrote on Facebook. “The address of responsibility is crystal clear: the LVV’s refusal to agree and engage in sincere political dialogue” .
Government Response
Advisor to Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Vetevendosje official Jeton Zulfaj responded to the president’s decision in a Facebook post, stating that the ruling party acted in full compliance with the constitution throughout the entire procedure .
According to Zulfaj, Vetevendosje took all necessary constitutional actions to develop the process of electing the country’s president. He criticized opposition parties, emphasizing that they did not present any candidates .
Zulfaj added that the session was interrupted due to the absence of deputies, emphasizing that it would continue as soon as their participation in the hall is ensured. He accused the opposition of boycotting institutional processes, citing similar situations from last year .
Background of Political Crisis
The need for fresh elections marks the third time in just over a year that Kosovo voters are expected to return to the polls to elect a government . A general election a year ago left Kurti without the majority needed to form a government, leading to months of parliamentary stasis. Polarized lawmakers eventually forced a December snap poll, which Kurti’s party won with over 51 percent of the vote, securing 57 seats .
Despite topping two general elections, Prime Minister Kurti’s party failed to secure support for its preferred presidential pick, falling at the latest hurdle in a crisis that had left the country without a functioning parliament for nearly a year .
The opposition boycotted the March 5 session, and only MPs of the ruling Vetevendosje party were present in the parliament . Vetevendosje had called on opposition parties on March 4 to propose their candidate, offering them the necessary signatures of its MPs in order for the process to move forward, but no agreement was reached .
International Engagement
Following the president’s announcement, ambassadors of the QUINT countries—the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy—were seen leaving the Government building on March 6, though there was no announcement of any formal meeting .
The need for fresh elections is expected to further stall negotiations with Serbia, which has never recognized Kosovo’s independence, over the situation in the Serb-majority north of the country . The normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina remains key to both countries’ stated ambitions to join the European Union .
Earlier this week, the Albanian American Relations Council expressed deep concern over the continuing institutional crisis in Kosovo, which has now persisted for more than a year. In a statement on March 4, the Council said that “the inability of political parties to place the country’s national interests above narrow party agendas and personal rivalries has prolonged political paralysis at a time when Kosovo should be strengthening its democratic institutions and international standing” .
The Council called on political leaders in Kosovo “to act with urgency and statesmanship to end the current stalemate and restore the stability and functionality that the citizens of Kosovo deserve” .
Economic Concerns
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce had previously called on parliamentary parties to avoid new elections, stating that Kosovo’s economy needs stability and functioning institutions, sustainable decision-making and institutional cooperation, “and not a new election process that can further economic and institutional uncertainty” .
The chamber said that political stability is a precondition for economic stability and noted that Kosovo urgently needs new internal and external investments and reforms that would make it more competitive and attractive for businesses .
With inputs from:
Reuters: Kosovo president dissolves parliament
KOHA.net: Kosovo in new elections
Euractiv: MPs fail to elect president
Insajderi: Kurti reacts to dissolution
US News: Parliament fails election
UNMIK Media Observer – Morning Edition, March 5, 2026
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