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Kosovo’s assembly had a deadline of midnight Thursday to elect a
new president to replace Osmani, who took office in 2021. A vote
late on Thursday failed due to a lack of a quorum in the
120-member assembly.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti has blamed the failure on the
opposition's boycott of the session. His ruling Ventevedosje, or
Self-Determination, party has asked the Constitutional Court to
temporarily suspend the deadline for the process to resume.
It was not immediately clear when the court will rule and
whether it could affect Osmani's decision to dissolve the
Parliament.
Osmani said in an address Friday that the situation was
"completely avoidable" and lawmakers had enough time to choose a
president.
“It is a great misfortune for this state that they did not
choose the interests of the Republic of Kosovo,” Osmani said. "I
have issued the decree for the dissolution of the assembly, and
through this decree I am fulfilling the constitutional
obligation that is clearly defined.”
Vetevedosje swept the early vote in December and made an
alliance with ethnic minority groups to form a new government in
February.
The same party won an election in February 2025 but could not
muster a parliamentary majority, which led to a stalemate and
snap vote in December.
A former Serbian province, Kosovo declared independence in 2008
following a 1998-99 war that ended after a U.S.-led NATO
intervention. Serbia does not recognize the split and tensions
have simmered ever since.
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