Kurti Risks Assembly Vote on New Kosovo Government

Albin Kurti, leader of Vetevendosje, the party that came first in the October snap elections, and who has received a mandate to form the new government, will present his cabinet to parliament for a vote on Monday.

The leadership of Kosovo Assembly on Thursday confirmed Kurti's request for the parliamentary session to be held on February 3.

Despite not having reached an agreement on a coalition with the second-biggest party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, Kurti requested a vote on his new government next Monday in a letter to Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca.

The LDK leader, Isa Mustafa, confirmed on Thursday to local TV station RTV21 that the LDK would vote for a Vetevendosje minority government even if no coalition deal was reached. But he warned that despite the LDK's promise to vote for a Vetevendosje-led minority government, he could not be certain that all 28 LDK MPs would "raise their hands" in favour.

Political analyst Blerim Vela told BIRN that a minority government would clearly not be stable, as Kurti would need to constantly lobby other parties to pass any legislation.

Meanwhile, both parties continue claiming that a coalition deal remains possible. Mustafa said on Thursday night that the LDK "were and are still willing to form a coalition with Vetevendosje".

On Thursday, Kurti also met representatives of ethnic minority parties, including the Belgrade-backed Serbian party, Srpska Lista - adding to the confusion, as Kurti had previously claimed his government would never include Srpska Lista.

Kurti has insisted that a government will be formed without Srpska Lista and that the Serbian community minister will be chosen from outside this party. The constitution requires two ministers to come from minority...