Kosovo holds repeat vote in bid for EU and NATO membership

Kosovo Holds Early Parliamentary Election Amid Ongoing Crisis

Voters in Kosovo cast ballots on Sunday for an early parliamentary election, the third in 18 months, as the country seeks to break a political impasse. The election was scheduled after the main parties failed to agree by a March deadline on who should replace former President Vjosa Osmani.

The crisis has had a negative impact on Kosovo’s economy, which is already facing challenges due to the global energy crisis and rising fuel prices. The country declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following a war that ended with a NATO bombing campaign in 1999.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party holds a clear majority in the parliament, but Kosovo’s president is elected by at least 80 lawmakers, requiring a broader consensus. Kurti is being challenged by the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo, which have accused him of seeking to exert control over all institutions.

Former President Osmani is running on the opposition LDK list in the election, having turned against Kurti after he refused to support her for a second term. Analysts expect little change in the election outcome compared to the previous vote in December.

The institutional vacuum has delayed access to international funds available to Kosovo, which has been recognized by the US and most EU countries but not by Serbia and its allies. European Council President Antonio Costa urged Kosovo to end the impasse and unite over EU integration goals during a recent visit.

Tensions remain high in Kosovo’s north, where ethnic Serbs live, but both Pristina and Belgrade have been told they must improve relations to move forward with their EU membership bids.

Source: Al Jazeera