Kosovo PM Kurti egged in parliament amid political crisis

Kosovo's parliamentary session was halted on Saturday following an opposition lawmaker's act of throwing eggs at Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Kadrijaj, a member of the conservative opposition party Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), directed his ire at Kurti before the eggs were flung. Undeterred by the incident, Kurti expressed his willingness to endure the repercussions if it meant facilitating dialogue.

Kurti's left-wing party, Vetevendosje (VV), is infamous for its disruptive behavior in parliament, having previously employed tear gas in the chamber in 2018 and on multiple occasions in 2015. This latest incident unfolds amidst days of negotiations as Kurti endeavors to secure sufficient opposition backing to elect a new president in the face of Kosovo's ongoing political turmoil.

The Balkan nation has held three elections within two years, with Kurti gaining his parliamentary majority in December 2025, following a inconclusive vote in February of the same year. Despite a decline in VV party's vote share from 51% to 43% in a snap election in June 2025, the party still holds a majority alongside ethnic minority partners.

However, Kurti necessitates a two-thirds majority to appoint a president. The ongoing negotiations have once again hit a dead end, with neither side agreeing on a candidate. A key constitutional deadline for electing a parliament speaker expired on Friday. Opposition lawmakers have threatened legal action against Kurti for delaying negotiations.

Kosovo gained independence from Serbia in 2008 following the 1998-99 conflict, which concluded with Serbia's withdrawal after a NATO bombing campaign. The country enjoys recognition from more than half of the world's nations, including the United States and most European Union countries. Serbia, however, maintains that Kosovo is part of its territory.