PRISTINA, Feb 10 - Kosovo faces a period of political uncertainty as major political parties reject coalition building following an election where the ruling party fell short of an outright majority.
According to election commission results, Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje party secured 41.1% of votes with 97% of ballots counted. The election's contentious atmosphere saw a tripling of fines for misconduct from the previous election, culminating in celebrations in Pristina.
The election outcome holds significant implications for Kosovo's policies in its ethnically divided north and its relations with traditional allies the European Union and the U.S., both of which have criticized Kurti's leadership.
Analysts suggest Kurti must form a coalition with either the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) at 22.2%, or the Democratic League of Kosovo party (LDK) at 17.8%.
However, immediate coalition prospects seem dim. In his post-victory speech, Kurti, who had rejected coalition talks prior to the election, labeled the opposition as "animals" and "thieves" willing to strike deals "with the devil" against his government.
PDK leader Bedri Hamza stated that his party will not align with Vetevendosje due to significant ideological contrasts. Hamza indicated that forming a coalition might involve partnering with a minimum of three smaller parties.
The third-placed LDK stated its intention to await final results before making decisions, having ruled out collaboration with Kurti beforehand.
Kosovo, with a majority ethnic Albanian population, became Europe's newest country and one of its poorest upon gaining independence from Serbia in 2008, backed by the U.S. following a 1999 NATO bombing campaign against Serbian forces.
The political landscape remains heavily influenced by relations with neighboring Serbia and its Serb population. Kurti, a leftist and Albanian nationalist, aims to expand government authority in the north, home to around 50,000 ethnic Serbs who predominantly reject Kosovo's independence.
This policy stance has raised concerns among moderates fearing a resurgence of ethnic conflicts that have plagued the region in recent years. Kurti's efforts to limit ethnic Serbs' self-governance have strained relations with the EU and the U.S.
In response to tensions, the EU imposed economic restrictions on the country in 2023, causing economic repercussions, according to Reuters.