Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has launched a series of meetings with opposition leaders to discuss the election of the country’s next president, warning that only eight days remain before the constitutional deadline.
On Monday, Kurti met with Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, after previously holding talks with Bedri Hamza, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo. The discussions focused on finding a political solution that would allow the election of a new president without triggering fresh elections.
Kurti said efforts will intensify in the coming days and emphasized that a solution likely depends on cooperation among the three largest parties — Vetëvendosje, PDK, and LDK. He also clarified that the current president, Vjosa Osmani, who is seeking another term, is not his candidate for the presidency.
“We will intensify talks so that we can reach a solution regarding the president, because the general impression is that after four rounds of elections we have already had, the first half of 2026 should not be taken up by new elections,” Kurti said.
Avoiding New Elections
The prime minister stressed that his government will make maximum efforts to avoid early elections caused by a failure to elect a president. He noted that even a potential cooperation between Vetëvendosje and LDK would not guarantee enough votes to resolve the issue.
Despite the political arithmetic, Kurti expressed optimism.
“What makes me optimistic is the constructive atmosphere in these meetings and the fact that I do not see enthusiasm for new elections, even though there is readiness if necessary,” he told journalists.
Opposition Leaders Call for Responsibility
PDK leader Hamza said that electing a president is a shared responsibility of all political forces, adding that his party will not block state processes but will not support candidates who fail to represent civic unity and constitutional values.
Meanwhile, Abdixhiku said the meeting discussed two possible paths forward: reaching a broad political consensus within the remaining days, or forming a traditional political agreement among parties.
“In both cases, two-thirds of the votes are required,” he noted.
Constitutional Deadline Approaching
The mandate of President Osmani is set to end in early April, but a new president must be elected by March 4 under constitutional timelines. While Osmani has expressed ambition for a second five-year term, it remains unclear whether she has the necessary parliamentary support.
According to the Constitution, 80 votes out of 120 MPs are required in the first two rounds of voting, while 61 votes are enough in the third round. A candidate must first secure at least 30 signatures to enter the race.
