Kurti’s Party Leads Kosovo Election but Falls Short of Majority

Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party was on course to win Sunday’s parliamentary election in Kosovo, the Balkan country’s third national vote in 18 months. It was not expected to secure the majority needed to end the country’s long-running political crisis.

Europe’s youngest country and one of its poorest is seeking to join the European Union, but spent much of last year without a fully functioning government. Deep divisions in parliament have prevented the election of a new president.

With 73% of ballots counted after polls closed at 7 p.m., Vetevendosje led with 43% of the vote, official results showed.

The party would still need coalition partners to form a new government and would have to reach a compromise with rivals to secure the two-thirds majority required to elect a new president.

(reuters, su)