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Kosovo’s parliament elected Albin Kurti as prime minister on Wednesday, securing the leader a third term and ending a year-long political gridlock in the country.<\/p>\n
Following 12 months in a caretaker position, Kurti was confirmed as the Balkan nation’s new prime minister after his Vetevendosje (Self-determination) party topped the results in a snap election in December.<\/p>\n
He was elected to the leadership with 66 votes in favour in the 120-seat parliament — drawing applause from his supporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read more<\/span>Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti set for second term after decisive election win<\/p>\n Delivering his speech to parliament ahead of the vote, Kurti set out his legislative agenda, highlighting the economy and increasing investment in defence at its core.<\/p>\n “During these years, as we have all witnessed, we have faced constant attacks and threats from Serbia,” he said of his country’s northern neighbour, which has never recognised\u00a0Kosovo’s independence.<\/p>\n But he promised to “pursue normalisation of relations” with Belgrade.<\/p>\n “Normalisation is a matter of regulating relations between two states, that is, as a bilateral external relationship and not interference or meddling in internal affairs,” Kurti told parliament.<\/p>\n Tensions in the country’s north, where most of the ethnic Serb minority live, have remained high since the 1990s war between Serbia and\u00a0Kosovo.<\/p>\n A normalisation of relations is a key requirement for both countries’ stated EU ambitions.<\/p>\n Read more<\/span>Kosovo’s ruling party leads in parliamentary elections but fails to secure majority<\/p>\n A general election a year ago had left Kurti without the majority needed to form a government — leading to months of parliamentary stasis.<\/p>\n Deeply divided lawmakers eventually forced a December snap poll, which Kurti’s party won with over 51 per cent of the vote, securing 57 seats.<\/p>\n But the result took weeks to confirm, after alleged inaccuracies in the tally triggered a full recount and a criminal investigation.<\/p>\n More than 100 election staff have been arrested as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n Kurti has already flagged an intention to move quickly as he seeks to approve key international loans for\u00a0Kosovo,\u00a0including from Brussels, which require a two-thirds majority to pass.<\/p>\n