Kosovo is facing political instability as major parties have dismissed the prospect of an alliance following elections where the ruling party could not achieve a clear victory.

According to the election commission, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party, Self-Determination, secured 41.1 percent of the votes with 97 percent of ballots counted.

Reuters notes that the political landscape in Kosovo, particularly in the ethnically divided north, along with its relationships with traditional allies like the European Union and the United States—who have shown disapproval of Kurti’s governance—hangs in the balance.

Political analysts believe that Kurti must consider forming a coalition with either the Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK), which garnered 22.2 percent of the votes, or the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which received 17.8 percent.

However, this seemed improbable following Kurti’s early morning victory speech, in which he called opposition members “animals” and “thieves” willing to make deals “with the devil” against his administration.

PDK leader Bedri Hamza indicated that his party would not join forces with Self-Determination, stating at a press conference, “We have many differences; they seek absolute power.”

He suggested that while his party would explore coalition options, it would necessitate partnering with at least three smaller parties.

The LDK, finishing in third place, said they would await the final results before outlining their future plans, having previously ruled out coalition talks with Kurti.

Self-Determination received over 20 percent of the votes in 50 municipalities.

The fourth position was taken by the coalition of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and the Social Democratic Initiative (ABK Initiative), who secured 7.65 percent of the votes.

The Serbian List clinched victories in all municipalities with a Serbian majority, achieving 4.05 percent of the votes.

“The preliminary results clearly indicate that the Self-Determination movement won the elections on February 9, 2025,” Kurti proclaimed to supporters in Pristina, as fireworks lit up the sky and fans waved Albanian flags.

During the highly contested election campaign, penalties for irregularities were increased threefold compared to the 2021 elections. The campaign highlighted issues such as corruption, crime, healthcare, and education, all set against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the north, where Kurti’s initiatives to reduce ethnic Serb autonomy have escalated conflict and isolated Kosovo further from the EU and the US.

Reuters indicates that a government under Kurti would likely persist in tightening control over the north, home to about 50,000 ethnic Serbs, raising concerns among moderates wary of potential ethnic violence.

In 2023, the EU implemented economic sanctions on Kosovo, reducing funding by at least 150 million euros due to its role in heightening tensions.

Isak Vorgučić, director of Radio Kim from Čaglavica, remarked that some supporters of Self-Determination turned away from Kurti because of EU sanctions and worsening relations with the US.

“The election results were expected, as it was evident in the months leading up to the vote that a segment of Kurti’s base would not support Self-Determination this time, having perceived the diminishing support from the international community, chiefly the EU and the US. This drew Albanian voters to opposition parties,” Vorgučić conveyed to the Beta agency.

When asked about the formation of a new government, he noted Kurti’s previous commitment not to collaborate with opposition parties.

“Currently, the formation of a government in Kosovo appears highly uncertain, as no party holds an absolute majority. Nonetheless, last night, Kurti mentioned to the media that he could potentially form a government with an opposition party. Conversely, the three main opposition parties (DPK, LDK, and ABK) could form a coalition along with minority representatives. The question remains whether they would consider a coalition with the Srpska List, particularly after Banjska, as they now regard the Srpska List as a supporter of Milan Radoičić’s terrorists,” Vorgučić remarked.

Political analyst Cvijetin Milivojević argued that the election results would not prompt any significant change, as the Albanian political elite maintains a consistent stance on independence and regards Serbs as a national minority in the region.

Milivojević shared with Beta that “true democracy” is lacking in Kosovo, asserting that the Serb community has limited options.

“No matter who governs in Kosovo, the Albanian political elite remains unified in their belief that Kosovo is independent. They categorize Serbs as a national minority, a view that conflicts with the broader sentiment in Serbia and our constitution. President Vučić’s government collaborates in violating the constitution (…) Serbs in Kosovo have no real choice; they are coerced into voting for the Serbian List. Anyone deviating from that pathway is labeled a traitor,” Milivojević stated.

He highlighted that the Serbian population in Kosovo has decreased by 30 percent since 2012, attributing this decline to the “poor decisions” of the current Serbian administration.

“Kurti didn’t expel Serbs from institutions; it was Vučić who did,” Milivojević concluded.

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