Butiken
Political Deadlock in Kosovo: Will New Elections Break It?
Research
The parliamentary election held in Kosovo in February 2025 saw the governing Self‑Determination Movement (LVV) lose ground, eroding its de facto majority. Nine months later, no viable coalition had emerged, prompting the president to call a fresh election, scheduled for late December. Unlike equivalents in many European countries, Kosovo's party landscape is not shaped primarily by ideological divides. Instead, personal rivalries and historic animosities impede compromise and the formation of a stable parliamentary majority. The stalemate also underscores the broader challenge confronting the European Union in the Western Balkans. The EU seeks to promote democratic reforms and the incorporation of EU legislation in the region, particularly in Kosovo, while avoiding actions that could heighten tensions with neighbouring Serbia. This is an increasingly difficult balance to strike.
