Kosovo Parliament Dissolved After Failed Presidential Vote

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo's parliament dissolved automatically on Tuesday night after lawmakers failed to elect a successor to President Vjosa Osmani by a midnight deadline, paving the way for the Balkan nation's third parliamentary election in just over a year.

Osmani's five-year term expired in early April, prompting parliament's 120 members to seek a new head of state. The constitution requires at least 80 lawmakers, or two-thirds of the assembly, to be present for a valid vote. Opposition parties boycotted the session due to disagreements over candidates, denying the necessary quorum and triggering the legislature's dissolution.

Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu, serving as acting president, confirmed the move at midnight. "Based on the Constitutional Court verdict, the parliament is considered dissolved," she said. An election date has not been set, but it must occur within 45 days. Political analyst Ilir Deda predicted a vote in June, noting it would test public willingness to hold politicians accountable.

The crisis extends a period of political instability for the country of about 2 million people. An inconclusive election in February 2025 led to months of deadlock,...