Kosovo PM wins snap vote, but with no majority

Kosovo Prime ‌Minister ⁠Albin ⁠Kurti 's Vetevendosje ​party on Sunday won the most votes in a snap election, yet failed to secure enough votes to govern alone.

Results from almost all polling stations showed Kurti's Vetevendosje party won nearly 43% of the vote. This is lower than its result in the previous election in December, when it won 51%.

The opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) secured 21% and 17% of the vote, respectively.

The election is the third in 16 months , with the unstable political situation negatively affecting Kosovo's economy and EU aspirations .

The election was called after the main political parties were unable to elect a new head of state to replace former President Vjosa Osmani within the required timeframe.

Although Kurti's center-left Vetevendosje party holds a clear parliamentary majority, a president must receive at least 80 votes in the 120-member assembly.

In recent parliamentary votes, there were not enough lawmakers in the chamber to allow a valid election owing to an opposition boycott.

At least one major opposition force is required to support any candidate, as Vetevendosje and its partners do not constitute a sufficient quorum.