On March 22, 1998, Kosovo held parliamentary and presidential elections under the leadership of Ibrahim Rugova. These elections, organized in 29 electoral districts, aimed to elect a president and 130 members of parliament—100 through direct voting and 30 through proportional allocation.
The head of the Central Election Commission at the time was Judge Tadej Rodiqi. Ten political parties, three associations, and three independent candidates participated in the elections, which were widely seen as a move to solidify Kosovo’s democratic aspirations amid growing tensions.
On March 19, 1998, Rugova called on the people to participate massively, emphasizing that these elections were crucial for Kosovo’s statehood, democracy, and international recognition, particularly by the U.S. and the European Union.
Despite the symbolic significance of these elections, they did not lead to immediate political results due to the worsening situation in Kosovo, which soon escalated into conflict.
