Kosovo elects president, rushes war crimes court change to avoid snap poll

Kosovo's parliament recently passed an amendment that curtails the powers of the country's war crimes court, narrowly avoiding another political crisis. The decision came just in time to elect the nation's president, who was to be chosen at midnight GMT on October 7, 2026. The amendment was prompted by the KSC's conviction of four senior guerrilla figures, including former President Hashim Thaci, for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict with Serbia.

The decision to amend the court's powers was met with outrage from many Kosovo citizens who view the former KLA leaders as heroes. The amendment was approved just minutes before Kosovo's parliament had to elect a new president to avoid snap elections, which had been a concern due to the political instability. The newly elected president, Justina Shiroka-Pula, is a woman and the third female president in Kosovo's history.

The changes would limit the KSC's jurisdiction to crimes committed in Kosovo immediately after the war, reduce sentences to 15 years, and allow convicts to serve their terms in Kosovo. Despite the changes, the current sentences for the four former KLA leaders, including Thaci, will remain unchanged as they plan to appeal through the KSC's established process.