February 18, 2021

Kosovo opposition movement gains half of parliament seats

topic:	Election
editor:	Katarina Panić

During the conflict between Serbia and its southern province Kosovo, which led to the  NATO intervention in 1999, he was a rebellious student. Last Sunday, his Vetëvendosje (self-determination) Party got almost a half of the seats in parliament.

Albin Kurti was among 46 politicians banned from running the election over court convictions in the last three years. Without leading Kosovo's left wing as a candidate, his anti-establishment party won the snap election by a landslide. 

"This was a referendum for justice and work and against state capture and corruption,” Kurti said, addressing his supporters on Sunday night.

In the last general election in October 2019, Kurti’s opposition movement won some 26 percent of seats in parliament, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK which secured roughly 25 percent. This time, it was more than 48 percent for Kurti’s party. The second party to win most seats was the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with barely 17 percent.

"Once the results came out, these percentages were most surprising. Based on many different polls, it was clear Vetevendosje will win, but hardly anyone could bet it would be as high. People on the streets are rather happy. Election met their expectations," Pristina-based journalist Jeton Musliu told Fairplanet.

Kurti has not been certified by the Central Election Commission, as he was found guilty in January 2018 of setting off tear gas in the parliament building. However, he is not eager to be prime minister again, as he used to be this time last year. 

"Longtime ruling parties PDK, LDK and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) were punished because of widespread corruption and nepotism. More or less, they were all the time in the government, unlike Kurti who was prime minister a year ago - for 51 days only," Musliu said. 

Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, general elections have taken place six times. No government has finished its full term so far.

The negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, brokered by both the US and EU, have their ups and downs. Half of the UN member states do not recognise Kosovo's statehood, including five EU countries. The name of Kurti's party originates in a graffiti at the Pristina UN base's walls which read "No negotiations, only self-determination!" 

"According to Kurti, the dialogue process with Serbia is not his priority, or it's at place six or seven in his list," Musliu added.

Image by Johanna Kuchling.

Call to Action

Help our democracies survive COVID-19

Support now