Kosovo general election: the cost of political polarization

The current election campaign in Kosovo is marked not only by the usual competition between rival political parties, but also by the disintegration of one of the most important political alliances in the country in recent years, namely that of Prime Minister Albin Kurti , who has led the government for the past six years, and former President Vjosa Osmani .

Osmani was already a political ally of Albin Kurti and had the prime minister's support when she was elected president by the parliament of Kosovo in 2021.

At the time, the two were seen as a motor for change and the fight against corruption in Kosovo. Now, they are rivals.

When Osmani's term came to an end earlier this year, Kurti did not back her for a second term.

Kurti has said that "the president should be a unifying and representative figure," and that, in his view, Osmani has political ambitions to become involved in a political party and seek direct support from voters.

Instead, the prime minister put forward candidates from his own party, Vetevendosje. But opposition lawmakers did not rally behind these candidates .

Sunday's snap general election — Kosovo's third in just under 16 months — was triggered when Kosovo's parliament in April failed for the second time to elect a new president.

Osmani is now running for parliament as a candidate for her former party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).