UN: Continued political deadlock undermines confidence in Kosovo institutions

An American State Department spokesman said about Radio Free Europe that the continued political impasse undermines confidence in Kosovo institutions”.

“We are closely following developments. We would like to see all political groups co-operate for the best interests of the people of Kosovo”, the spokesman said.

Kosovo will hold early parliamentary elections on 7 June.

They were announced after the Assembly was automatically disbanded this week due to its failure to elect the new president within the constitutional deadline.

The ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement, accused the opposition of deliberately boycotting the sessions, while opposition parties blamed power for lack of co-operation and for trying to focus power on a single hand.

The 10th legislature, issued by early elections on December 28th, lasted less than three months.

Those elections were held following an extended political crisis that began after regular elections on February 9th 2025, when the Parliament failed to be established for months and efforts to form the Government ended without success.

Analysts warn that Kosovo risks facing a scenario similar to that of Bulgaria, which in the past five years has gone through seven successive election cycles without achieving institutional stability.

They add that the crisis also affects the pace of state decision-making and brings considerable financial burdens to the state budget.

On 2 May, the Central Election Commission announced it has started a deadline for political parties to declare participation in the June 7th elections, as well as forming coalitions, which will last until May 7th.

Under the CEC-endorsed task plan, the 2 May deadline for the Certificate of new parties and the handover of candidate lists for MPs has also started. The deadline for new parties expires 10 May, while for candidate lists on 12 May.

A day earlier, the CEC also approved the task plan and budget for early elections, which would cost 10m to 887 thousand euros.

The election campaign will last 10 days, from May 28th to June 7th to 7: 00 p.m., when the polling opens.

The postal vote will take place from May 25th to June 6th, while a day before the elections will be held in diplomatic representations.

Voter registration from abroad will take place from 6 May to 17 May.

In the December 28th elections, over 2 million Kosovo citizens -- both inside and abroad -- had the right to vote a figure expected to remain similar in the upcoming elections.

Turnout was about 45 percent. /Periscope