He assured his supporters of his commitment to engage with every “corner” of Kosovo, earning their trust.

The Self-Determination Movement, under the leadership of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, secured victory in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections on February 9th, garnering approximately 41 percent of the votes, as per preliminary results.

“We will carry on the promising work we initiated over the past four years, along with additional commitments, from one end of Kosovo to the other,” Kurti stated following his victory announcement.

Kurti previously led the Kosovo Government for four years starting in 2021 and had a brief tenure in 2020.

In comparison to four years ago, his party’s support has dipped by around 10 percent.

Nevertheless, Kurti asserted that Self-Determination will guide the government for another four years.

It remains uncertain which political faction the party will partner with to gain the 61 seats needed in the Kosovo Assembly or the policies they will pursue.

Who is Kurti?

Kurti is a figure who elicits strong opinions from all sides of the political arena.

To his supporters, he embodies a reformist approach and serves as a defender of national interests in the face of external challenges.

In contrast, his detractors view him as a rigid ideologue whose unwillingness to compromise has strained ties with international partners and isolated Kosovo globally.

Kurti rose to prominence during the 1990s by spearheading protests against the repression carried out by former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.

His activism resulted in a two-year imprisonment in Serbian jails, with his release facilitated by international intervention.

In 2005, alongside fellow activists from the Kosovo Action Network, he established the Self-Determination Movement, which subsequently became a political party.

As its head, Kurti has built a career criticizing past political elites for corruption and nepotism while opposing foreign influence.

Notable for leading street protests and even resorting to tear gas in parliament, Kurti has moderated his rhetoric over time. He has shifted from advocating for unification with Albania to focusing on strengthening Kosovo’s independence and sovereignty.

Kurti first assumed the role of Prime Minister in February 2020.

However, that government saw the shortest duration in post-war Kosovo.

Contentions regarding the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and dialogue with Serbia led to heightened political tensions.

On March 25, the Democratic League of Kosovo submitted a no-confidence motion, resulting in the downfall of Kurti’s government.

Less than a year afterward, in February 2021, early parliamentary elections took place, and Self-Determination achieved over 50 percent of the vote.

In his second term as prime minister, Kurti pledged to prioritize health, education, and justice.

What defined Kurti’s previous mandate?

Kurti committed to governance that prioritizes transparency and accountability, underscoring the importance of national sovereignty.

Despite these assertions, reports by the US State Department have noted instances of government corruption and constraints on media freedom during his administration, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Since 2021, unemployment has seen a decline, yet economic growth has lingered below four percent. Wages and pensions have seen increases, as have foreign direct investments.

The hallmark of Kurti’s second term has been his insistence on extending Kosovo’s authority to the northern part of the country, home to a majority Serbian population that has consistently rejected decisions made by Pristina.

In the face of protests, Kurti appointed Albanian mayors to Serbian-majority municipalities after the local community boycotted the elections, exchanged Serbian license plates for Kosovo ones, eliminated the Serbian dinar from circulation, and shuttered most Serbian institutions that have operated since the post-war era, which employed thousands.

While instrumental to his vision of a united and sovereign Kosovo, these decisions have strained international relations.

In an unprecedented response, officials from the European Union and the United States have heavily criticized the Kosovo government, labeling its actions as disjointed and detrimental to the Serb community.

Kurti’s actions have raised questions about the partnership with the United States, as noted by former US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien.

Progress in Kosovo can only occur with American support and by addressing its concerns, stated former US Ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier.

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described Kurti as uncooperative.

Consequently, the EU enacted punitive measures against Kosovo, temporarily halting financial aid and putting restrictions on high-level meetings with Kosovo officials.

While Kurti defended his decisions as lawful and in accordance with the Constitution, allies emphasized that discussions regarding the north should occur within the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue aimed at normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

This high-level dialogue has also come to a standstill.

Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have not convened since September 2023, despite the crucial nature of normalizing relations for the European integration of both nations.

Shortly after that meeting, armed Serbs attacked Kosovo police in the village of Banjska in Zvečan, resulting in the death of one officer. Three Serb attackers were also killed during the confrontation.

Kurti blamed Serbia for the incident, but Serbian authorities refuted any involvement.

He conditioned the resumption of dialogue on the extradition of Milan Radoičić, a former Serbian politician from Kosovo, who admitted to orchestrating the Banjska attack.

Prior to this, Kurti had rebuffed multiple demands from the international community to normalize relations with Serbia by initiating steps toward the establishment of a Union of Serb-majority Municipalities.

This union was agreed upon in 2013, long before Kurti’s leadership, and has been persistently requested by Serbia.

However, every Kosovar government has hesitated, fearing potential negative impacts on the state’s internal functionality.

Similarly, Kurti insisted on the de facto recognition of Kosovo by Serbia, a recognition that has yet to materialize.

During a rally with supporters on February 1, Kurti repeated that “the Republic of Kosovo, with our government at its helm, says ‘no’ to the Community,” a Serbian term consistently used by the Self-Determination Party for this initiative.

With this position, Kurti signals a continuation of a defiant approach that risks deepening tensions between Kosovo and its Western allies.

Nonetheless, according to Charles Kupchan from the Council on Foreign Relations in the US, “it is possible that Kurti, following his re-election, may choose to adopt a softer approach.”

“…to steer in a direction that is less ethno-nationalist and more constructive regarding relations between Pristina and Belgrade,” Kupchan told Radio Free Europe.

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