Kosovo Assembly Elects Speaker Ending Six-Month Deadlock

After nearly six months of political deadlock following Kosovo's February parliamentary elections, the Assembly elected Dimal Basha of the Vetëvendosje Movement as its new speaker, securing 73 votes. Basha's election ended months of institutional paralysis, allowing the Assembly to move forward with government formation. The vote followed multiple failed attempts and a Constitutional Court ruling mandating the election of a speaker within 30 days. Basha, a three-term MP with experience on key committees, emphasized the importance of unity and called on Serbia to recognize Kosovo's independence. While Basha gained support from several parties, including the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, opposition came from the Democratic League of Kosovo, which criticized the outcome sharply. The election clears the way for Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Self-Determination Movement to form a government after the party won the general election but lacked a majority.