Kosovo's ruling party leads in exit polls but may fall short of presidential election majority

Kosovos Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his Vetëvendosje party are poised for victory in the country's parliamentary election, exit polls from three major media outlets suggest. However, the party is projected to fall short of the two-thirds majority required to elect a new president, signaling a continuation of the political stalemate that has gripped the nation.

Sunday's vote marks the third election in just 16 months. The country has been in a political deadlock, struggling to form a government. The presidential election deadline was initially set for March 6, but a failure to agree on a candidate led to the dissolution of parliament by President Vjosa Osmani and the call for new elections.

Vetëvendosje previously won over 51 percent of the vote in December and 42 percent in February 2025. Despite these strong showings, the party has been unable to secure consensus with other parties on a presidential nominee. This inability led to the dissolution of parliament in April and the subsequent call for yet another election.

Without the necessary two-thirds majority, Kurti will remain compelled to negotiate political compromises with opposition parties to achieve the consensus needed for presidential elections. The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo are polling around 22 percent and 17 percent, respectively, indicating they will be key players in any future coalition talks.