Kosovo lawmakers have approved a new government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, following an early election in June. This move comes amid a long-standing political crisis in the small Balkan country, which has struggled with political instability for over 18 months. Kurti’s government received the support of 62 lawmakers in the 120-member assembly, a slim majority. However, opposition lawmakers boycotted the session, claiming that Kurti violated proper procedures after the election. The political deadlock began after an election in February 2025, when no single party secured enough votes to form a government. A second early election in December 2025 allowed Kurti to form a government, but disagreements persisted over the election of the country’s president. To choose a president, Kosovo’s assembly requires a quorum of at least 80 lawmakers, which Kurti did not have. As a result, the president remains unelected, and the political crisis continues. Kurti’s party, Vetevendosje, again won the most votes in the June election but with fewer seats than before, reflecting growing voter disappointment and frustration. Opposition parties have vowed to challenge what they see as procedural violations in the Constitutional Court. If the crisis continues unresolved, it could lead to another early election, further straining the country’s already fragile political landscape. Kosovo, a predominantly ethnic Albanian nation, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a war in the late 1990s that ended with NATO intervention. While Kosovo is recognized by the United States and most European Union countries, Serbia and its allies, including Russia and China, do not acknowledge its independence. Both Pristina and Belgrade have been urged to improve relations to advance their bids for EU membership, but the ongoing political turmoil in Kosovo complicates these efforts.