Polling stations have closed in Kosovo after voters cast their ballots in a high-stakes parliamentary election that could shake up the country’s leadership.
The vote, which saw 28 political parties battle for control of the 120-seat parliament, comes amid growing tensions with Serbia and strained relations with Western allies.
More than 1,280 candidates were in the running, with around 40% of Kosovo’s two million registered voters turning out to have their say.
Kurti’s big test
This election is a major test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose government has been under fire over its handling of the Serb-majority north and a stalled EU-backed deal with Serbia.
For the first time since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, the country has made it through a full four-year parliamentary term without an early election.
With vote counting now underway, all eyes are on whether Kurti’s left-wing Vetëvendosje party can secure another term or if opposition parties will make a comeback.
Serbia talks and Western warnings
The new government will inherit Kosovo’s deadlocked talks with Serbia, which the US and EU have been pushing to revive. A deal struck in 2023—requiring Kosovo to grant more autonomy to Serb-majority areas while Serbia moves towards de facto recognition—has gone nowhere.
Kurti has also been at odds with the West, with Brussels slapping Kosovo with sanctions last year over tensions in the north. His critics claim his approach has put Kosovo’s relationship with the US at risk, a claim recently echoed by ex-Trump adviser Richard Grenell, who says ties are at their weakest point ever.
What happens next?
With vote counting now in full swing, early results are expected in the coming hours. The final outcome will determine who leads Kosovo’s government and takes on the challenge of fixing diplomatic rifts and pushing for progress on the international stage.
