Kosovo’s president dissolved parliament on March 6th in preparation for the third general election in just over a year, after lawmakers failed to agree on a new head of state. Vjosa Osmani told reporters that the date of the new general election would be announced after she had consulted political parties:
This situation was completely avoidable. It is a great misfortune that those representatives did not choose the interest of the people.
Osmani claimed that, under the constitution, she had no choice but to dissolve the assembly following the failed parliamentary vote, adding
No-one should want another political cycle, especially at this moment when the country needs stability. But irresponsible people with dangerous intentions brought the country here.
Despite winning most votes in the past two general elections, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party failed to secure support for its preferred presidential pick. The general election just over a year ago left Kurti with most seats in parliament but without the majority needed to form a government. That led to months of parliamentary stasis—eventually ending in December’s snap poll, which Kurti again topped.
