NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that after the Kosovo elections, NATO expects the formation of a stable government and will work with whoever leads the country. He made these remarks during a press conference following a meeting of defense ministers from NATO member countries in Brussels.
Rutte emphasized that the election process in Kosovo had been democratic and that while the initial results were in, final vote counting was still ongoing. Based on the current results, it seems likely that a coalition government will be formed. He added that NATO is committed to collaborating with the new leadership and wished all political leaders well as they work toward creating a stable government as soon as possible.
The parliamentary elections in Kosovo took place on February 9, with initial results showing Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) winning 40.81% of the vote, followed by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 22.16%, and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) securing 17.60%. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and NISMA coalition gained 7.46%, while the Serb List, the largest party representing Kosovo Serbs, earned 4.43%.
These were the first regular elections held in Kosovo since it declared independence. Observers noted that the elections were calm, with minor irregularities but no major incidents. Voter turnout was 40.59%, with participation from both Kosovo’s citizens and the Kosovo diaspora.
