Kosovo held its regular parliamentary elections on Sunday. The online system of the Central Election Commission (CEC) crashed despite previous promises of “smart elections,” leaving political parties to rely on their own calculations for early results.
Initial estimates indicate that Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination Movement) emerged as the winner with over 40% of the vote. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) secured second place with more than 20%, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) at 18%. The coalition between the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Nisma garnered 7.6%, while Srpska Lista won 5.4% of the vote, ensuring all 10 of its guaranteed parliamentary seats. Outgoing minister Nenad Rašić also claimed to have won a seat.
Kurti’s Vetëvendosje declared victory and called supporters to a midnight celebration at Skenderbeg Square in Pristina. Fireworks lit up the night, but despite the triumph, estimates suggest that Vetëvendosje may also be among the losers.
The party failed to reach the half-million votes it had promised and, according to preliminary data, lost 10% of its voter support compared to the previous elections. This decline comes despite Kurti’s narrative of running the “most responsible government,” which he claims brought justice, equality, rule of law, and full sovereignty to Kosovo.
Kurti announced his intention to form a third government. However, with these results, a coalition will likely be necessary. Given his sharp words toward the opposition, such a coalition seems uncertain at best.
During his speech last night, Kurti attacked opposition leaders with harsh language, calling them “hajvani”—a derogatory Turkish term translated by local media as “beasts” or “brutes.” His remarks triggered a wave of criticism and disbelief.
“You’ve seen the lies they’ve told in their promises,” Kurti said. “They claimed the state budget would exceed the gross domestic product. What animals! They promised a coefficient higher than their own program. What animals! But the time for beasts is over.”
He accused the opposition of waging an unprecedented war against his government, suggesting they are in cahoots with oligarchs and “making deals with the devil” to secure power. Kurti has frequently linked these alleged oligarchs and their media to Serbia, portraying them as agents of malevolence.
“There has never been a greater war against a government than this,” Kurti declared. “The opposition, which does not want the best for the state or the people, remains in opposition because they do not want Kosovo’s progress.”
The celebration in Pristina featured predominantly Albanian flags, with one supporter even waving a banner bearing Kurti’s image. Songs with strong nationalistic undertones, including those by folk singer Shkurte Fejza, echoed through the square. One of the songs performed was “Mitrovica Will Not Be Divided”.
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