Kosovo’s new Parliament is constituted after two failed attempts but uncertainty remains

After two prior delays, the Assembly of Kosovo emerging from the February 9 elections officially convened on Saturday, completing the process of verifying mandates and swearing in newly elected deputies.

Why is this important: The constitution of the new Parliament ends a weeks-long deadlock and allows the formal political process to proceed — though Saturday’s developments also highlighted Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s struggle to secure a majority needed to form a new government.

Context: The 119 present deputies first voted to approve the verification commission’s report on parliamentary mandates and quorum, followed by the swearing-in of all members.

Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca then proposed Vetëvendosje MP Albulena Haxhiu as the new Speaker of Parliament. Her candidacy, however, failed to receive the necessary 61 votes. She garnered only 57 votes in favor, with 20 against and 3 abstentions from NISMA deputies aligned with Fatmir Limaj. The main opposition blocs — PDK, LDK, and AAK — boycotted the vote.

Opposition response: The opposition interpreted the vote as proof that Kurti lacks the numbers to form a government. This impasse also explains their earlier refusal to resign from cabinet positions, a legal prerequisite for transitioning into parliamentary roles — effectively stalling the first two scheduled sessions.

What’s next: The session was suspended by acting chair Avni Dehari, who said the leadership would now assess how to proceed with electing the Speaker and forming a new government.