Only six working days remain before the constitutional deadline to elect the new President of Kosovo, but instead of concrete names and agreements, uncertainty dominates.
Behind the scenes, the process appears not merely a formal constitutional requirement but part of a broader political calculation by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
On Monday, February 23, Kurti stated that he is making every effort to avoid early elections, which would follow if a new president is not elected.
President Vjosa Osmani’s mandate ends on April 4, while the deadline for electing the new president is March 4 — otherwise, new parliamentary elections must be held within 45 days.
Osmani has made it clear that she seeks a new term, but Kurti — whose party, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje (LVV), holds a majority in the Assembly — did not mention her by name. He did not categorically rule her out, but pointed out that it would be pointless for the party to propose a candidate alone, as it could secure at most 66 votes — far from the 80 votes needed to elect a president.
For this matter, Kurti met with the leaders of the two largest opposition parties — on Sunday with Bedri Hamza of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and on Monday with Lumir Abdixhiku of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).
Hamza expressed willingness for parliamentary coordination on issues of state and national interest, while Abdixhiku requested either a political agreement or consensus.
Kurti acknowledged that the situation regarding the presidential election is not easy:
“I do not see enthusiasm for new elections, and this is something we share. These elements make me optimistic,” he told reporters.
However, he did not mention any concrete candidate, even when asked about a potential nominee from the family of Kosovo hero Adem Jashari. In the past, members of this family have been mentioned as potential presidential candidates, but none has been officially proposed.
In the 2021 parliamentary elections, Osmani ran on a list with Kurti and was among the most voted candidates in Kosovo. She was elected president in April of that year and achieved several milestones in foreign policy — from securing new international recognitions for Kosovo to its inclusion on the Peace Board for Gaza, an initiative launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Kurti and Osmani have occasionally had indirect clashes, such as over alliances with Western partners or import tariffs from the United States.
Kosovo held two sets of elections last year after the February 2025 elections did not allow Kurti — despite his party winning — to form a new government.
Osmani has not made any public statements following Kurti’s meetings with opposition leaders, but on social media, she summarized her current five-year mandate, from foreign visits to meetings with the diaspora.
