Kosovo PM Kurti egged in parliament amid political crisis

Kosovo's parliament was put on hold on Saturday following a controversial incident at the legislative session. Opposition lawmaker Kadrijaj from the conservative Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party launched eggs at caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti. In reaction, Kurti expressed his willingness to "pay this price" if it meant achieving dialogue.

Kurti's left-wing Vetevendosje (VV) party is recognized for disrupting parliamentary proceedings, having employed tear gas in the chamber in 2018 and several times in 2015. This event unfolds amid a series of negotiations as Kurti seeks to secure sufficient opposition support to elect a new president, amidst Kosovo's ongoing political crisis. The nation has held three elections over the past two years, with the latest one in December following a deadlock in February 2025.

Kurti's VV party, which once held a 51% share of the vote, now stands at 43% after a snap election in June. Nonetheless, the party maintains a parliamentary majority alongside ethnic minority allies. However, Kurti needs a two-thirds majority in parliament to elect a president. The ongoing negotiations have hit another impasse, with no agreement reached on a candidate.

The deadline to elect a speaker of parliament expired on Friday, and opposition lawmakers have threatened legal action against Kurti for extending the negotiation period. Kosovo gained independence from Serbia in 2008, following a war that concluded with Serbia's withdrawal after a NATO bombing campaign. The country is recognized by more than half of the world's states, including the United States and most European Union nations. Serbia, however, maintains that Kosovo is part of its territory.