Tirana: In an effort to break months of political stalemate, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has officially nominated former parliamentary speaker Glauk Konjufca as the nation’s next prime minister. The move aims to prevent a snap election after the opposition repeatedly rejected the candidacy of caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, following inconclusive elections earlier this year. Konjufca now has 15 days to assemble a government and secure parliamentary approval.
The small Balkan nation has been trapped in a governance impasse since February’s parliamentary elections. Kurti’s Vetevendosje party, which emerged as the largest faction, failed to secure a majority and could not reach a coalition agreement with other parties. Opposition leaders have made clear they will also reject Konjufca, a close ally of Kurti, raising uncertainty about whether a functional government can be formed without resorting to new elections.
President Osmani has appealed directly to parliament, stressing the urgency of the situation. She noted that prolonged political paralysis has stalled reforms, delayed infrastructure projects, and frozen certain European Union and World Bank funding. “It is in Kosovo’s interest to attempt to form a government so these important decisions are not delayed for several more months,” Osmani said, warning that she would be forced to call a snap election if parliament rejects Konjufca’s nomination.
Konjufca, 44, comes from Kurti’s Vetevendosje party, which has dominated recent electoral politics but lacks the numbers to govern independently. Opposition parties cite Kurti’s controversial handling of relations with Western allies and the situation in northern Kosovo, home to a significant Serb minority, as reasons for their resistance. The political tension highlights deeper divisions over national strategy, EU integration, and the delicate balance of ethnic relations in Kosovo.
Kosovo, Europe’s newest country, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with support from the United States after the 1999 NATO-led campaign. The current political deadlock underscores the challenges facing post-conflict states in consolidating democratic governance while pursuing international integration and domestic stability.
The next two weeks will be critical. If Konjufca fails to win parliamentary approval, Kosovo is likely headed for early elections, prolonging uncertainty over its government and reform agenda. Observers in the Balkans and Brussels alike are watching closely, as the outcome will influence Kosovo’s EU accession prospects and regional stability.