February 2025 Kosovan parliamentary election

Electoral system

The 120 members of the Assembly were elected by open list proportional representation for a four-year term, with 20 reserved for national minorities.^[5][6] Seats were allocated using the Sainte-Laguë method with an electoral threshold of 5%.^[7]

Election date

According to the constitution, parliamentary elections must be held no later than 30 days and no earlier than 45 days prior to the expiration of the outgoing parliament's mandate.^[8] On 31 July 2024, President Vjosa Osmani formally invited the leaders of political parties to a consultative meeting regarding the scheduling of the upcoming elections.^[9][10] In her invitation, Osmani underscored that, in accordance with the constitution and the electoral code, the elections must take place between 26 January and 16 February 2025.^[9][11]

Opposition figures, including Lumir Abdixhiku of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ramush Haradinaj of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Memli Krasniqi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), advocated for elections on 26 January, while Mimoza Kusari-Lila of the Alternativa proposed delaying the elections to 9 or 16 February, citing logistical concerns related to the post-holiday period.^[12][13] Prime Minister and leader of Vetëvendosje (LVV) Albin Kurti did not attend the consultation due to a prior commitment.^[14] Concluding, on 16 August, Osmani announced that the elections would be scheduled for 9 February 2025.^[15][16][17]

Governmental parties

In August 2024 the governing parties of Vetëvendosje, Guxo and Alternativa announced that they would once again run inside the same electoral list, with incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti leading the list.^[26] Although initial reports suggested that Guxo and Alternativa preferred a formal coalition.^[27]

There has been some infighting within Guxo against their leaders Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and Faton Peci, both of whom are ministers within the government. On 9 December 2024, the Ferizaj branch announced it would close itself that day, citing discontent with its leaders.^[28] On 12 December, the Peja branch called for voters to boycott the election following the publication of the deputy list, which according to them, broke party rules by not including the party name on the list.^[29]

Opposition parties

On 27 March 2024 the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) nominated Bedri Hamza, South Mitrovica mayor and former Minister of Finance, for Prime Minister.^[30] This move is allegedly an attempt to focus the campaign on the Economy, which has stagnated under the new government.^[31] On November 3 during the convention of PDK, Hamza announced their slogan would be "Kosovo can do better" (Albanian: Kosova mundet ma mirë). Hamza also announced his platform, with the economy being the top priority.^[32]

In December 2023, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) published its platform dubbed "Rruga e re" ("The New Road", "The New Path" or "The New Way").^[33] In July 2024, the LDK and Christian minority party PSHDK announced that they would run together in the same electoral list.^[34] Lumir Abdixhiku is its candidate for prime minister, serving as LDK leader since 2021.

In January 2024, opposition parties Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) and Conservative List of Kosovo (LKK) announced they would run together in a coalition led by Ramush Haradinaj, AAK leader and former Prime Minister.^[35] According to the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD), it too was offered to join this coalition but rejected it due to ideological differences.^[36] The coalition was formalized in August 2024^[37] and soon after, the coalition published their platform emphasizing foreign relations and a goal of joining NATO and the EU.^[38]

The New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), the Justice Party (PD) and assembly members of the ruling LVV^[39] announced the creation of the "Family List" Coalition.^[39] The coalition was formed as opposition to the ruling party's attempt to increase LGBTQ rights in Kosovo, specifically the proposed Civil Code which would legalize same-sex civil unions.^[40]

Campaign issues

National polls

Seat projections

The projections below are calculated according to the opinion polls from above.

Leadership approval

Results by municipality or voting provision

Speakership election

Under Kosovo's constitution, the inaugural session of Parliament must elect a speaker before it can proceed with any other business nor nominate a government. If it fails to do so, the Parliament is reconvened every 48 hours until a speaker has been chosen by an absolute majority, with no set deadline.^[85] As LVV received a plurality of the votes, it had the right to propose a candidate for speaker, and it nominated Albulena Haxhiu, outgoing justice minister.^[88] Haxhiu, considered a divisive choice by the opposition, was supported by the LVV and some minority deputies, but they fell short of a majority.^[85] Little has changed since and, by 27 July, there were 54 votes in total before the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.^[89][90][91]

To overcome the impasse, there was a proposal to form a commission to oversee a secret ballot, but this was repeatedly rejected by the deputies.^[85] Haxhiu has said that if a secret ballot goes ahead and she does not receive the required 61 votes, she would withdraw.^[92][93]

On 26 June, the Constitutional Court ruled that the deadlock must be ended within 30 days (by 26 July).^[93][89] Following the court's decision, President Vjosa Osmani began to meet with party leaders to find an agreement.^[94] On 26 July, the last day possible to hold a vote before the deadline, Parliament held two sessions, one at 14:00 (the 53rd) and one at 22:00 (the 54th). Both failed,^[91] and as such, MPs were prohibited from taking any action until 8 August.^[95]

On 8 August, the Court gave MPs another 30 days to elect a speaker. It however stipulated that no candidate could be proposed more than three times, and that MPs must be present to vote during the sessions. The Court also found that the acting speaker had violated the constitution by continuing to call for a commission to establish a secret ballot.^[96][97]

Through 22–26 August, the Assembly voted 7 times for 5 different candidates (4 from VV, 1 from Guxo!). On 26 August, 73 members (including PDK members) successfully voted for Dimal Basha to become speaker.^{[98][99][100]}

Later that week, 5 deputy speakers were to be elected; 4 successfully were, however the Serbian minority deputy failed to secure enough votes, which drew questions over whether the Assembly had been fully constituted.^[101][102] In early September, the Serb List submitted a request to the Constitutional Court to look at the case, and the party refused to recognise the Assembly of Kosovo.^[103] The court announced all parliamentary activity would be frozen until 30 September while it debated the case.^[104] On 30 September, it ruled that the inaugural session was not properly adjourned due to the refusal to elect a Serbian minority deputy leader.^[105][106] By 7 October, there was no indication that a Serb List candidate would be elected, as parties said they were waiting for the publication of the full decision by the court.^[107]

Government formation

Following the election of Basha as speaker, Kurti as leader of the largest party was given two weeks to form a government.^{[98][118][102]} On 5 November, President Vjosa Osmani gave Glauk Konjufca two weeks time to form a government after Kurti failed to do so.^[119] Konjufca also failed forming a new government and new elections were called for December.^[120]