Final election results reveal that the incumbent party in Kosovo gets the majority of seats.

Over a month after voting, Kosovo authorities confirmed Saturday that Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s governing party won the most parliamentary seats in the February elections but lacked the numbers to form a majority government.

Following numerous delays, the Central Election Commission announced that the results of the February 9 elections had finally been certified.

The poll contrasted Kurti’s effort to wipe out the influence of Serbia more than 15 years after Kosovo proclaimed independence against the opposition’s ambition to develop the economy in one of the poorest corners of Europe.

With the ballots counted, no party secured a clear majority in the 120-seat parliament, setting the stage for weeks if not months of coalition talks or another round of elections soon.

Compared to 2021, when they received just over 50% of the vote, Kurti’s ruling Vetevendosje (“Self-Determination”) party (VV) received 42% of the vote, or 48 seats.

With 24 seats and 21 percent of the vote, the right-wing Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) came in second.

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which received 18 percent and 20 seats, came in third.

Additionally, minority parties have twenty seats set up for them, including ten for the Serbs of Kosovo, who are greatly outnumbered by ethnic Albanians.

The late 1990s saw a deadly conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, which led to a NATO intervention and Belgrade’s withdrawal from the separatist province.

Since 2008, Serbia has refused to acknowledge its subsequent proclamation of independence.

Kurti’s tenure in power was turbulent.

Following the near breakdown of negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, which were supported by the US and the EU, in March 2023, tensions increased.

Following the incident, rioting Serbs attacked NATO peacekeepers, and a fatal armed standoff in the north escalated tensions in the region.

Kurti also began a systematic attempt to destroy the last Serbian establishments in Kosovo, closing banks and post and tax offices supported by Belgrade and outlawing Serbian money and license plates.

Throughout the turmoil, Kurti remained steadfast, even if it meant running afoul of Kosovo’s backers in the US and Europe.