Kosovo sets date for parliamentary elections

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani announced on Friday that parliamentary elections will be held on February 9, 2024. This election is seen as a critical test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose party, Vetevendosje! (Self-Determination Movement), achieved a significant victory in the 2021 elections. The decision to set the election date followed consultations with various political parties, including Kurti's governing coalition. The upcoming elections come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, particularly in the divided city of Mitrovica, where Kurti has called for the reopening of a bridge that has been a flashpoint between the ethnic Albanian majority and the minority Serb population. Western officials have expressed concerns that this move could exacerbate existing tensions. Additionally, Kurti's government has faced criticism from Western powers over its decision to close six branches of a Serbia-licensed bank in northern Kosovo. The February vote will play a pivotal role in determining Kosovo's leadership as it navigates stalled normalization talks with Serbia, which are being facilitated by the European Union. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that Serbia does not recognize. The historical context of the region is marked by a violent conflict that ended in 1999, resulting in significant loss of life and the displacement of Serbian forces. As Kosovo prepares for the elections, the political landscape remains complex, with several former leaders, including ex-President Hashim Thaci, currently facing war crimes charges in The Hague, further complicating the nation's political dynamics.