TIRANA – Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has nominated former parliamentary speaker Glauk Konjufca as the country’s next prime minister in an effort to avoid a snap election amid ongoing political deadlock. Konjufca, an ally of caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, has 15 days to form a government for parliamentary approval.

Last month, parliament rejected Kurti’s candidacy, leaving him in a caretaker role since the inconclusive February election. Opposition parties have also signaled they will reject Konjufca, calling instead for a new vote.

President Osmani appealed to parliament to support Konjufca to ensure approval of the 2026 state budget and key international financial agreements. “As president, I have assessed that it is in Kosovo’s interest to attempt to form a government so these important decisions are not delayed for several more months,” she said.

Konjufca, 44, was proposed by Kurti’s Vetevendosje party, which won the February election but failed to secure a majority or reach a coalition agreement. Opposition leaders have criticized Kurti for his handling of Kosovo’s relations with Western allies and the ethnically divided north, where a Serb minority resides.

Kosovo, Europe’s newest country, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following a NATO intervention in 1999, but political deadlock has stalled reforms, infrastructure projects, and EU integration efforts.