Name: Why Kosovos upcoming parliamentary election matters
Uploaded: 2025-12-23T12:43:06.283Z
Duration: 4 min 48 s
Description: Kosovo hopes to break a months-long political deadlock with a snap election on December 28. Why does this poll matter not only for Kosovo, but for the entire region and for other international actors?

Kosovo hopes to break a months-long political deadlock with a snap election on December 28. Why does this poll matter not only for Kosovo, but for the entire region and for other international actors?

Kosovo is set to hold a snap parliamentary election on December 28th after months of political stalemate, with caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti leading a transitional government. The election's outcome is significant for both Kosovo's internal stability and its international relations, particularly regarding ongoing tensions with Serbia and the country's aspirations for EU membership.

The region remains geopolitically sensitive, with unresolved disputes between Kosovo and Serbia affecting broader Balkan stability and EU enlargement prospects. The next government will face challenges including reviving dialogue with Serbia, implementing reforms for EU accession, addressing economic issues, and curbing the emigration of young people.

Why Kosovo's upcoming parliamentary election matters

Kosovo, a small country in Southeastern Europe with a population of around 1.8 million, is heading to the polls for a snap parliamentary election on December 28th. The poll comes after months of political deadlock, where the party that came first in February's general election failed to form a government. Albin Kurti of the centre-left Vetvendosie, a self-determination party, has been serving as prime minister in a caretaker capacity, and is head of a transitional government that does not have a full mandate. At first glance, this election might seem very much like a domestic political event. But the reality is that the outcome of the election will impact regional stability, Kosovo's international relations and the future of EU enlargement in the Balkans. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nearly a decade after the Kosovo war and the NATO intervention that ended it. Today, more than a hundred countries recognise Kosovo's independence, including the United States and most EU members. Serbia, however, does not. Nor do Russia and China, Serbia's traditional allies, and several other countries. This status quo shapes almost every single political debate within Kosovo. In terms of the average age of its population, Kosovo is one of Europe's youngest countries. Nearly half its citizens are under 30. Unemployment in Kosovo is high, investment is limited, and corruption is a persistent concern. As a result, many young people are leaving in search of work abroad. In a part of the country where ethnic Serbs make up the majority of the population, tensions between Kosovo's central government in Pristina and local communities has escalated on a number of occasions. In September 2023, for example, things came to a head with clashes between a heavily armed ethnic Serb militant group and Kosovo police. The incident, in which several people were killed, raised fears of a renewed conflict. The EU imposed sanctions on Kosovo after the 2023 clashes, but lifted them again in December 2025. Kosovo is bordered by Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro, which means that it is right at the heart of a geopolitically strategic region where global powers are competing for influence. A key task for Kosovo's next government will be the EU-mediated dialogue with Serbia. Kosovo applied for EU membership in December 2022. Without progress in their bilateral relations, neither Kosovo nor Serbia can join the bloc. There is no stable government in Serbia due to protests and there is no stable government in Kosovo due to the lack of parliamentary majority. That creates a situation where there are no preconditions for improving relations, which of course encourages other geopolitical actors to benefit from this instability. I don't believe that Russia is particularly influential, but it certainly has an interest in instability in Kosovo and in unresolved relations. So if Serbia and Kosovo were to resolve their disputes or at least begin a more sustained dialogue, it would be a positive sign for the European Union and a negative one for all those who are seeking to benefit from geopolitical instability in the Western Balkans. Kosovo's future will be shaped by several factors. At the top of the agenda for the next parliament will be the formation of a stable government. If a government can be formed after the election, it will face a very full entry. The question of whether dialogue with Serbia can be revived and tension in Serb-majority areas decreased, the introduction of reforms needed to allow Kosovo to progress towards EU membership and measures to boost the economy and curb the country's brain drain. In short, the next government will be under immense pressure, both from Kosovo's citizens who want reform and from international partners who expect stability and dialogue.

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insisted that the United States won't take over Greenland and demanded respect for their territorial integrity after President Donald Trump ‍​announced ​the appointment of a ‌special envoy to the semi-autonomous territory.

Nuuk

Trump's appointment of envoy to Greenland sparks tension with Denmark

Australia's most populous state is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols and curb protests after the state parliament's lower house cleared a bill late on Monday (December 22) in an emergency sitting following the Bondi mass shooting.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia's NSW to tighten gun, hate speech laws after Bondi attack

On Monday, President Trump announced a new class of Navy battleships he's calling the "Golden Fleet." The president said two vessels will be built in the short term, with plans to expand to up to 25.

Washington

Trump unveils plans for new fleet of advanced Navy battleships

China's foreign ministry on Monday (December 22) said the United States' seizure of another country's ships was a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. intercepted a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

Beijing

China says U.S. ship seizures ‘serious violation' of international law

A Russian general was killed by an explosive device underneath his car in Moscow, according to Russian investigators, who say Ukraine's intelligence services may have orchestrated the attack. Ukraine has not commented.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russian general killed in car explosion

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, officials told Reuters on Sunday (December 21), in what would be the third operation in less than two weeks if successful.

Caracas

U.S. pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

At least 15 documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were initially made public have been pulled from the Justice Department website. The agency says it will keep reviewing and redacting materials to "protect victims."

Epstein files pulled down to 'protect victims'

Nine people have died and at least ten others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

Bekkersdal

At least nine people killed in South Africa pub shooting

U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said.

As peace talks go on, U.S. intel says Putin's war goals unchanged

A court in Pakistan has convicted and sentenced the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison after finding them guilty of retaining and selling state gifts, including jewelry given by Saudi Arabia in 2021.

Islamabad

Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan convicted to 17 years in prison

The U.S. seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on Saturday. It's the second time in two weeks that U.S. forces have carried out such an action. This comes after President Donald Trump announced a block of "sanctioned oil vessels" entering and exiting Venezuela.

Oil tanker seized off Venezuela, second in two weeks

The Justice Department released more documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Saturday after failing to meet Friday's deadline to release all the documents, as required by the law signed by President Trump last month. The Justice Department said the delay was, in part, to ensure that victims' information was protected.

Justice Department releases more Epstein documents Saturday

The U.S. Department of Justice released thousands of documents, photos and files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. But some Democrats are criticizing the partial release because the department had a deadline to release all of the files by end of Friday.

'Partial' release of Epstein files faces criticism

The United States military “hit the ISIS [ISIL] thugs in Syria”, President Donald Trump has said, a week after two US soldiers and an interpreter were killed in Syria’s Palmyra city. Trump said he “ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week”.

Damascus

Trump says U.S has launched large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria

Ukraine said its drones hit a vessel from Russia's shadow fleet – the first such strike in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Russia's shadow fleet transports sanctioned Russia oil by frequently changing flags and concealing ownership.

Ukraine strikes Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean sea

The U.S. Justice Department has released thousands of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including photos featuring people like former President Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger. However, survivors are concerned with how much information was redacted from the files.

Thousands of new Epstein files, photos released

The U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday (December 19) in retaliation for an attack on American personnel, U.S. officials said.

U.S. hits ISIS in Syria with large retaliatory strikes

The man suspected of carrying out an attack in Taiwan with a smoke grenade and knife acted alone, police said on Saturday of the incident that killed at least four, including the attacker. This edit contains graphic images.

Taipei City

Taipei attacker acted alone, police say after three killed

The suspect in the Dec. 13 mass shooting on the campus of Brown University was found dead by suicide in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, authorities said. He has been identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown grad student.

Providence

How a Reddit post led police to the suspected university shooter

Seven people were killed, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his wife and children, in a plane crash in North Carolina. Investigators hope to find clues about why it happened on the cockpit voice recorder. Cristian Benavides has the latest.

Plane crash kills NASCAR driver, family

President Trump announced new agreements on Friday with nine pharmaceutical companies aimed at making certain prescription drugs cheaper. CBS News reporter Karen Hua has the details.

Trump announces agreements with major drugmakers to lower prices

The U.S. Justice Department released a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, bowing to pressure from lawmakers who forced their disclosure with a new law.

Washington County

Justice Department releases new tranche of Epstein files

The Justice Department has released a new batch of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more.

Combing through newly released Epstein files

TikTok has signed a deal to sell its U.S. operations to a group of investors in America, a source familiar with the deal tells CBS News.

TikTok nears deal to avoid ban in the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted to the European Union's massive $108 billion loan to fund Ukraine's war against Russia.

Kyiv

European Union loans Ukraine billions as Putin boasts about war

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues to take a heavy toll on civilians, particularly in frontline areas such as Zaporizhzhia, where fighting and shelling persist.

Putin accuses Kyiv of rejecting peaceful settlement

The man believed to be responsible for carrying out the Brown University shooting and killing an MIT professor was found dead in a storage unit in New Hampshire on Thursday, officials said.

Salem

Suspect in Brown and MIT shootings found dead

Australia will launch a national gun buyback program in the aftermath of a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Australia announces gun buyback program after Bondi Beach shooting

TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, signed binding agreements with American investors to allow the U.S. arm of the business to continue operating.

TikTok signs deal to allow app to continue operating in the U.S.

Under a law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, the Justice Department has until Friday to release its files on the Jeffrey Epstein case. House Democrats released more photos from the estate of the convicted sex offender. Scott MacFarlane reports.

Breakdown