PRISTINA: Kosovo citizens returned to the polls in another snap election on Sunday, their third in just over a year, as voter frustration mounts at a grinding political gridlock in Europe’s youngest country.
The ballot comes after a polarised parliament failed to elect a president in April, deepening a political crisis that has gripped the country since inconclusive parliamentary elections in February 2025.
“Enough is enough,” retired teacher Gezim Selimi told AFP after casting his vote in the capital Pristina.
“I expect parties to finally come to their senses and work for Kosovo, instead of wasting time fighting for power through one snap election after another.”
Despite topping the polls in February’s vote, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party fell short of the majority needed to form a government, triggering months of bitter division among MPs and eventually forcing a snap election in December.
Kurti’s Vetevendosje party — which blends a leftist agenda with fervent nationalism — again topped the vote and joined with ethnic minority MPs to form a government. But an opposition boycott of the vote to replace the outgoing president eventually sank the parliament.
“I don’t think I will vote. It’s frustrating to see that the election will yield the same result,” computer programmer Miranda Fazliu told AFP ahead of the election echoing the view of many voters.
Kurti on Sunday called on citizens to turn out in large numbers.
“Higher turnout will turn into higher legitimacy and stability for institutions of our republic,” he said after casting his ballot in Pristina.
At 0900 GMT, or four hours after polling stations opened, turnout was less than 8.5 percent, official figures showed. It was almost the same like compared with the December vote at the same time. The total turnout was about 45 percent then.
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