Pristina, 12 February 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Kosovo's parliament has re-elected Albin Kurti as prime minister in a vote on Wednesday.

Kurti, 50, received 66 of 120 votes, while 49 lawmakers voted against him. The vote was streamed live on the parliament's website.

Kurti's left-leaning Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) party, which holds 57 seats, gained support from most of the 10 lawmakers representing non-Serb ethnic minority parties, giving him a solid parliamentary majority following last December's election.

In his address to parliament, Kurti said his government would allocate €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to defence over the next four years, aimed at expanding the armed forces, acquiring modern weaponry and developing a domestic drone production capability.

The new Cabinet, also approved by parliament, includes 19 ministers. Glauk Konjufca, former parliamentary speaker and close Kurti ally, was named foreign minister, while former foreign minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz was appointed justice minister.

Kurti has led Kosovo since 2021 but most recently served as prime minister in a caretaker capacity for nearly a year after the February 2025 election failed to produce a clear majority.

Although Vetëvendosje emerged as the strongest party, it did not have a majority even with support from non-Serb minority parties, creating a deadlock that led to a renewed vote in December.

Formerly a province of Serbia, Kosovo declared independence in 2008 following an uprising and a NATO intervention in 1999. It has been recognized by more than 100 countries, including Germany, but not by Serbia, Russia, and some EU states. The country holds the status of a potential European Union candidate.

Photo: MIA archive