Albin Kurti’s emphatic victory strengthens mandate for domestic reforms including welfare expansion
Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti has won an emphatic election victory, marking a resurgence for the nationalist leader and ending a political deadlock in Europe’s youngest state.
The win in Sunday’s snap election strengthens Kurti’s mandate to push through domestic reforms, including welfare expansion and higher salaries for public workers, although he faces significant problems including tensions with Serbia and health and education systems that lag behind Kosovo’s Balkan neighbours.
With nearly all votes counted, Kurti’s Self-determination party led with more than 49% of Sunday’s vote, official results show, meaning he requires only some small coalition partners to form a majority.
It is a sign of a turnaround for Kurti, whose failure to win enough votes in the last poll in February or form a coalition with larger opposition parties meant that parliament did not function for most of 2025, an impasse that led to delays in the delivery of about €1bn in international funding that is vital for one of Europe’s poorest countries.
