The impact of votes from Kosovo’s diaspora on Kurti’s total remains uncertain; they previously contributed an additional 2 percent to Vetëvendosje’s total in December. The final vote totals will be confirmed in the coming weeks, once overseas votes are counted.
However, with the Serbian minority party refusing to cooperate and other opposition parties unlikely to reach a compromise soon with VV, Kurti is not expected to have sufficient seats to form a government.
“The diaspora could add 2-3 mandates to Kurti’s Vetëvendosje, potentially giving him around 50 MPs,” said Besar Gërgi, an expert in European integration at the Group for Legal and Political Studies, a Kosovo think tank, forecasting a continuing political deadlock. “He can’t form a government with [the remaining ethnic minority parties], and no president can be elected without their support.”
The latest snap election in Kosovo was triggered by a parliamentary crisis concerning the chamber’s failure to elect a president. Kurti declined to support former President Vjosa Osmani for the role, proposing candidates from his party instead, which the opposition boycotted.
Kurti and Osmani had disputes about the presidential role earlier this year, with Osmani accusing Kurti of trying to control the country’s institutions. “The future of Kosovo cannot be held hostage by political ego,” she stated, accusing Kurti of distancing European and U.S. allies in an interview with POLITICO.
In March, Osmani dissolved the parliament, leading to another election, the third since early 2025. She returned to her previous party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, intending to challenge Kurti, but came third on nearly 18 percent.
Despite declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo still lacks recognition from five EU member countries and needs to normalize relations with Belgrade to progress in its application process. Candidate status has not been granted yet, following their application in 2022.
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