2026 Kosovan presidential election

Incumbent president Vjosa Osmani took office on 4 April 2021, and her five-year term ended on 4 April 2026. Under the Constitution, she was eligible to seek one further term. Instead of nominating her, on 4 March 2026, Vetëvendosje nominated Glauk Konjufca as its presidential candidate ahead of the Assembly session. No other party submitted a candidate. Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu said that a session to elect the president could not be called without at least two candidates. Opposition parties, including the LDK, PDK and AAK, rejected Vetëvendosje's approach and called instead for a consensual candidate, contributing to the deadlock that led to the failed 5 March session. Proposed constitutional amendments On 5 March 2026, amid the deadlock over the presidential election, President Vjosa Osmani submitted constitutional amendments that would have changed the method of electing the president from an Assembly vote to direct popular election. The proposal was based on earlier draft amendments prepared in 2011. Vetëvendosje supported the initiative, and the Assembly's Committee on Legislation approved sending it forward, but opposition parties criticised the move and argued that such changes could not be adopted through a rushed procedure. Because constitutional amendments in Kosovo require a two-thirds majority of all deputies, including two-thirds of deputies holding reserved or guaranteed seats for non-majority communities, the proposal faced long odds. Later that day, the Assembly failed to vote on the amendments because there was no quorum. Constitutional Court ruling and April 28 deadline After the Constitutional Court's ruling of 25 March 2026, which invalidated the dissolution of the Assembly, lawmakers were given until 28 April 2026 to complete the presidential election. Although the Assembly retained that deadline, President Vjosa Osmani's term ended on 4 April 2026. Under Kosovo's constitutional arrangements, Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu then assumed the office of acting president until a new president is elected. The Court's ruling also restored the Assembly's role in continuing the interrupted election process. Albulena Haxhiu as Acting President assumes the duties of Acting President of Kosovo on 4 April 2026, after the expiration of Vjosa Osmani's presidential term. On 4 April 2026, Vjosa Osmani's five-year term as president ended, and Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu became acting president in accordance with Kosovo's constitutional procedure. She will remain in office until the Assembly elects a new president, for up to six months if necessary. The Constitutional Court had previously set 28 April 2026 as the deadline for the Assembly to complete the presidential election. Haxhiu said she would exercise the office in accordance with the Constitution and in the public interest. ==Electoral system==

Initially, a candidate is required to receive at least 80 votes, equivalent to two-thirds of the 120 members of the Assembly, in order to be elected. However, if no candidate succeeds during the first two rounds, a third round is held between the top two candidates of the second round, and the requirement is reduced to a simple majority of 61 votes. If the third round also does not produce a successful candidate, the Assembly is dissolved, with new elections to take place within 45 days. Article 86 states that the election of the President shall take place no later than 30 days before the end of the current president’s term of office. Additionally, Article 82 also states that the Assembly will dissolve if they do not elect a President within 60 days from the date of the beginning of the president’s election procedure. With the inaugural voting session having convened on 5 March, this 60-day countdown has been officially activated. Following the unsuccessful parliamentary session on 5 March due to a lack of a quorum, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje formally petitioned the Constitutional Court of Kosovo to impose a temporary measure suspending these strict constitutional deadlines until the court issues a final judgment. The party argued that the intentional obstruction of the quorum by members of parliament who refused to participate constitutes a constitutional violation. In their request, they asked the court to mandate that all deputies have a binding obligation to participate in the presidential vote—whether voting in favor, against, or abstaining—to prevent the country from being forced into early legislative elections due to political blockades. On 30 March, the Constitutional Court rejected Vetëvendosje’s request and declined to impose an interim measure, thereby determining that deputies are not obliged to remain in the parliament for the presidential vote. ==Candidates==

Confirmed Candidates from the previous legislature On 27 April, following the withdrawal of Glauk Konjufca and Fatmire Mullhaxha-Kollçaku from the candidacy, the Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu, announced that Vetëvendosje has proposed two candidates, Feride Rushiti and Hatixhe Hoxha. Based on electoral rules, both candidates are no longer considered candidates because the parliament has been dissolved, and Legislature X which had the responsibility to elect the president, failed to fulfill this duty, leaving it to the next legislature to carry out the election of the president. Withdrawn • On 3 March, according to media in Kosovo, Prime Minister Albin Kurti is expected to nominate Glauk Konjufca for president. On 4 March, Vetëvendosje nominated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Glauk Konjufca, for President of Kosovo. • On 5 March, Vetëvendosje also nominated its second candidate, Fatmire Mullhaxha-Kollçaku, who received 34 signatures for her candidacy. • On 27 April, Glauk Konjufca and Fatmir Mullhaxha Kollçaku withdrew from their candidacies for President of Kosovo. Expressed interest • On 1 January 2026, the current President, Vjosa Osmani, announced that she would seek the confidence of the Members of Parliament for a second term. In her statement, she emphasized her commitment to continuing the institutional reforms she has initiated and to further strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and Kosovo's international standing. On 25 April, the leader of the LDK Lumir Abdixhiku asked the Prime Minister Kurti for the 66 votes of the parliamentary majority in support of Vjosa Osmani, promising that 15 LDK MPs would support her as a candidate, but did not receive support from VV. • On 5 March, the lawyer Arianit Koci, who was a harsh voice during the 2025 Kosovo political deadlock, asked to be nominated as a candidate for president, without seeking votes from anyone, but with the sole aim of avoiding the crisis and the possible elections that could occur if the president is not elected. Speculated by the media • On 7 January 2026, following the parliamentary elections, several local media outlets reported that discussions are underway between LDK and VV, that Ibrahim Rugova's son, Uka, could be a potential candidate for either president or Speaker of the Assembly. • On 3 March 2026, media outlets reported that publicist and former politician Veton Surroi is being reconsidered as a potential candidate for president. • On 3 March 2026, media outlets reported that the PDK has considered proposing surgeon Shqiptar Demaçi, the son of activist Adem Demaçi, as a potential candidate for president. • On 4 March 2026, media reported that VV has considered proposing Andin Hoti, the son of activist Ukshin Hoti, as a potential candidate for president, reportedly offering the PDK the opportunity to support his nomination. • On 4 March 2026, media outlets reported that the PDK had proposed Justina Pula, President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts, as a potential candidate for president. However, both Pula and PDK leadership later denied the claims. • On 4 March, media speculation also increased that the former President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, could be a consensual candidate for president, as she is be eligible to serve a second and final term. Declined • On 13 January 2026, several media outlets reported that a potential candidate of Vetëvendosje! for President of Kosovo could be Bekim Jashari, former mayor of Skenderaj and nephew of one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Adem Jashari. • On 23 February 2026, Kosovar-American businessman Harry Bajraktari (born Hajdar Bajraktari) denied media reports claiming that he was lobbying to become President of Kosovo. He described the allegations as untrue and stated that he continues to support President Vjosa Osmani and has not expressed interest in running for president. • On 25 February 2026, Murat Jashari of the Jashari family stated that neither he nor any other family member is interested in becoming President of Kosovo. Bekim Jashari also reiterated this position, stating that he had nothing to add to Murat Jashari’s remarks and dismissing any speculation about a presidential candidacy. • On 26 February 2026, former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj stated that he is not a candidate for president and does not have the 30 out of 120 signatures required to nominate him. • On 26 February 2026, former Minister of Education, Science and Technology, , announced his candidacy for president and addressed the leaders of the Albanian political parties to seek their support. On 4 March, Bajrami withdrew his candidacy, considering that both parties, PDK and VV, were not interested in a consensual candidate. ==Results==

First attempt The first attempt to elect the president took place on 5 March 2026. Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) walked out of the parliamentary session, preventing the quorum required for the election. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) also refused to participate, with leader Lumir Abdixhiku stating that the country was heading toward a new election cycle. Only 66 deputies remained in the chamber, failing to meet the minimum of 80 required for a quorum, leading to the suspension of the session. Second attempt A second attempt to elect the president took place on 27 April 2026. Ahead of the session, the LDK, PDK, and AAK maintained a united opposition boycott, effectively preventing a quorum. The LDK reiterated its stance that the vote was a "propaganda show," while the PDK and AAK criticized the lack of political consensus and "seriousness" surrounding the session. Despite the lack of quorum, a voting round took place which resulted in 63 ballots being cast for Feride Rushiti, one invalid vote, and zero votes for Hatixhe Hoxha. ==Leadership approval==

Vjosa Osmani The polls below asked voters for their opinion of Vjosa Osmani, president of Kosovo since April 2021. == Aftermath ==

After the Assembly failed to elect a president on 5 March 2026 because only 66 deputies were present, President Vjosa Osmani issued a decree on 6 March dissolving the Assembly and opening the way for snap parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Vetëvendosje challenged the decree before the Constitutional Court, arguing that the Assembly still had time to complete the presidential election process under the Constitution. On 9 March, the Court suspended the decree pending review. On 25 March, it ruled that the decree had no legal effect and gave the Assembly 34 days, until 28 April 2026, to elect a president. International reactions The failure of the Assembly to elect a new president and the subsequent announcement of snap elections drew calls for constitutional adherence from the international community. • : The German Embassy in Pristina stated that it was following the ongoing developments closely. Embassy official Catalina Heine emphasized that Germany "expects all actors to act in accordance with the Constitution" during the election process. • : The EU Office in Pristina reacted to the political developments by emphasizing that the "normal functioning of institutions" is a prerequisite for Kosovo to benefit from the Western Balkans Growth Plan. While not naming the presidential process directly, spokesperson Nikola Gaon urged all political forces to implement the Constitution to ensure institutional stability. • : The U.S. Embassy in Pristina dismissed claims that it had requested or proposed the candidacy of Feride Rushiti. An embassy spokesperson clarified that the United States does not "propose or support specific candidates for president" and emphasized that the selection process is a matter for Kosovo's leaders and its people. The embassy further called on political actors to work together constructively to resolve the political impasse. ==Notes==