Kosovo Votes in Pivotal Election Amid Tensions Over Serbia Policy

Prime Minister Albin Kurti seeks re-election as his confrontational stance on Serbian influence faces scrutiny alongside economic challenges.

• Kosovo's parliamentary election on Sunday will determine whether Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje party can secure a second term after its landslide victory in 2021.
• Kurti's administration has focused on dismantling Serbian-backed institutions in northern Kosovo, a move that has escalated tensions with Serbia and drawn criticism from Western allies.
• The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo, are prioritizing economic issues in their campaigns, aiming to address poverty and unemployment in one of Europe's poorest nations.
• Kurti's confrontational policies, including banning the Serbian dinar and shutting down Serbia-linked services, have divided public opinion, with supporters praising his boldness and critics warning of strained international relations.
• The election will also shape Kosovo's approach to stalled EU-facilitated normalization talks with Serbia, a key issue for both nations' aspirations to join the European Union.

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