On 9 February 2025, Kosovo held parliamentary elections to choose the 120 members of its Assembly. The winner of these elections was Vetëvendosje (LVV) with 42,3% of the voteâ or 48 Assembly seats âÂÂwhich makes up a plurality rather than a majority. The winning party is required by law to appoint the new Speaker of the Assembly within 30 days after the results are certified, needing to pass the threshold of 61 votes (an absolute majority).
LVV's proposition for Assembly Speaker is the outgoing Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu. The voting process began on 15 April 2025, and failed with 52 votes "for", 46 "against" and 11 abstentions. The meeting was delayed by 48 hours as per Kosovo's legal framework, and the members reconvened again on 19 April. The members did not reach a consensus once more. The meeting was delayed more than 40 times as a result of the opposition parties categorically refusing the proposed candidate, which has been called a "deadlock" or "blockade" by all parties. On 26 August, Dimal Basha from LVV was voted as Assembly Speaker on his second proposal with a majority vote of 73 to 30.
All parties have accused each-other of trying to block the process, and have refused several options, such as the option for a secret ballot which was proposed by lawmakers. Haxhiu has said that if a secret ballot goes ahead and she does not receive the required 61 votes, she would withdraw. Neither opposition party has proposed its own candidate for Assembly Speaker. The Assembly has also not approved a budget for 2026, increasing tensions.
On 26 June, the Constitutional Court ruled that the deadlock must be ended within 30 days (by 26 July). Following the court's decision, President Vjosa Osmani began to meet with party leaders to find an agreement.
The deadlock has been met with symbolic civil protests. In one protest on 3 July, the lawyer Arianit Koci gained a lot of media attention after he brought four donkeys in front of the doors of the Assembly, to symbolize "the stubbornness that the Assembly members are showing". By 27 July, there were 54 votes in total before the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.
On 8 August, the Court gave MPs another 30 days to elect a speaker. It however stipulated that no candidate could be proposed more than three times, and that MPs must be present to vote during the sessions. The Court also found that the acting speaker had violated the constitution by continuing to call for a commission to establish a secret ballot.
On 26 October 2025, LVV nominated Albin Kurti as prime minister-designate and presented a proposed cabinet; however, it failed to secure the required 61 votes, receiving only 56 in favor, while 52 deputies voted against and 4 abstained. According to the Constitution of Kosovo, if the proposed composition of the new government does not obtain the necessary majority in the Assembly, the president must appoint a second prime minister-designate. Accordingly, on 19 November 2025, LVV nominated Glauk Konjufca as prime minister-designate and presented a proposed cabinet, but again failed to obtain the required 61 votes, receiving 56 votes in favor, 53 against, and 4 abstentions.
A <span style='background-color:#FFFFBB'>yellow</span> background indicates the nominee who became part of the cabinet formed in February 2026.
A fresh election was held on 28 December in which Vetëvendosje won nearly a majority in parliament, effectively ending the deadlock as Albulena Haxhiu was voted as the next Assembly Speaker by a majority of 66 lawmakers on 11 February 2026. Later that day, Albin Kurti's third cabinet was approved, including nine nominees from the previous failed attempts.