The Kosovo Assembly, in an extraordinary session held on Wednesday, voted for the formation of the Kurti 3 Government. 66 MPs voted for the formation of the Government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, with a cabinet of 19 ministers, 49 voted against and none abstained. The session for the formation of the Government was held after the constitutive session where the 10th legislature, which emerged from the elections held on December 28, was inaugurated.
Support the TIME. Preserve the truth.
Professional journalism is in the public interest. Your support helps it remain independent and credible. Contribute too. 1 euro makes a difference.
Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeGermany expects deepening cooperation with Kosovo institutions
The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Rainer Rudolph, conveyed his congratulations on the constitution of the Kosovo Assembly and on Albin Kurti's re-election as Prime Minister. His congratulations were conveyed by the German Deputy Ambassador Christian Bottcher.
The announcement from the German Embassy in Kosovo states that Germany expects to further deepen cooperation with Kosovo in many areas, especially towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
"Building on the close and unique relationship between Kosovo and Germany, we look forward to continuing and further deepening our bilateral cooperation – in the areas of economy, security, politics and sustainable development. Kosovo has not only a friend, but a strong and reliable partner in Germany," the Embassy's post reads.
They were not proposed again as ministers, Hajdari and Nagavci reveal the reasons
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Rozeta Hajdari, who held the position of Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade in the previous government, has said that she is happy that her colleague Mimoza Kusari-Lila will be the minister of this department in the new government.
Asked why she was not re-elected to this position, Hajdari replied that it is not necessarily the same as always being there and that it was a joint decision between her and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
"I wish the new government much success. I am more than happy that my colleague Mimoza Kusari-Lila has the position of Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade. It is not necessarily one thing, there always needs to be some kind of beautiful combination. It is a very good combination. It is a joint decision with Kurti," said Hajdari after the end of the session where the Kurti 3 Government was voted on.
Arbërie Nagavci was not proposed for the position of Minister of Education in the new government either. She briefly told the media that after the February 9 elections, she discussed her commitment to other positions with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
"After the February 9 elections, we have been discussing other positions with Prime Minister Kurti. Above all, I will be an MP and then we will soon look at other issues and specific commitments," said Nagavci after the end of the session where the new government was voted on.
Kurti 3 Government is formed
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The Kosovo Assembly has voted to form the Kurti 3 Government.
66 deputies voted in favor, 49 against, and there were no abstentions.
After the vote for the Government, Kurti and his cabinet ministers were sworn in at the Assembly.
The session for the formation of the Government was held after the constitutive session where the 10th legislature, which emerged from the elections held on December 28, was inaugurated.
Tahiri - Kurti: Do you know that you have established a government cabinet the size of China, not Kosovo?
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Besnik Tahiri from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo has criticized the prime minister-designate, Albin Kurti, for the government cabinet he presented to MPs. He said that the cabinet presented is "an accommodation of a government that aims to push a purely partisan agenda."
Tahiri added that the cabinet presented by Kurti has a large number of ministers for a country like Kosovo.
"We are here today on a day when as MPs we should reflect on a program, an exposition, a cabinet of this government that we have neither seen nor read, but we have heard from the candidate for prime minister on this podium. In fact, he read it so quickly that I was surprised that this is the largest government. The government that has 21 ministers and deputy prime ministers, a cabinet of 21 members. Prime Minister, do you know what you said when you took office, do you know that you established a government cabinet that is the size of a country like China, not Kosovo," he said.
AAK has previously stated that it will not vote for the new government.
Serbian List does not support the formation of the Kurti 3 Government
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Igor Simić from the Serbian List has said that his party will not support the formation of the Kurti 3 Government.
Simić has accused the previous government of violating the rights of the Serbian people.
"I take this opportunity to say that the Serbs of the Serbian List have nothing against the Albanian people with whom we have lived, live and will live. But, we will be against policies that aim to expel our people," said Simić.
He said that the statement of mandated Albin Kurti did not mention Serbs anywhere.
Meanwhile, he also complained about the proposal of Nenad Rashiq as Minister for Communities and Returns.
"He received his mandate in Parliament with votes in places where there have been no Serbs for decades. They were not Serb votes. You have the right to appoint him as a minister, but you know that he will never be a minister who represents Serbs. For all that you have done, for the violations committed, the Serbian List will not support the formation of this government," said Simić.
Abdixhiku: LDK ready for institutional cooperation in Parliament
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The leader of the LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku, has said that the Democratic League of Kosovo accepts its role in the opposition, but that it is not giving up.
He added that the party is also ready for institutional cooperation in the Assembly on major topics.
"I hope that this duty will be exercised with maturity, patience and awareness of the role that the Assembly has in the democratic life of Kosovo. LDK expresses its readiness for institutional cooperation in the Parliament on topics that go beyond parliamentary arithmetic because we believe that the stability of the state is built with prudence, respect for the opposition and awareness that democracy is not just a matter of numbers but a matter of political culture," he told the MPs.
Hamza calls for unity in support of former KLA leaders in The Hague
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, has said that in the first regular session of the new Kosovo legislature, he will request the adoption of a resolution that will demand a fair, impartial trial in accordance with international standards and respect for human rights, for the accused in The Hague.
He has requested full support for this resolution, while calling on all party and institutional leaders to participate in the February 17 march in support of the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being tried in The Hague.
Hamza said that PDK will refrain from debate in the constitutive session, while he said that PDK will support finding consensus on issues of great importance, such as the issue of the president and the passage of international agreements.
"Support for consensus is not a sign of weakness, but a state responsibility. We will give our contribution to an agreement for the good of Kosovo, but without compromising the state interest," said President Hamza.
Hamza said that PDK will take care of preserving any tendency to violate the Constitution, while he said that in the past dozens of laws passed in the Assembly have been overturned by the Constitutional Court. He also said that PDK will uncompromisingly protect the public interest, Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic path and the strategic alliance with the United States of America and international partners.
While he said that he listened to the presentation of the mandated leader for the new government, Albin Kurti, saying that it is more about promises and issues that have no basis for financing.
He said that action must be taken because Kosovo is emptying.
Kurti presents the governing cabinet, it will have 19 ministers
Prime Minister-designate Albin Kurti has presented the cabinet for the next mandate to MPs. According to Kurti's presentation, the cabinet will have a total of 19 ministries, 4 more than in the previous mandate.
The full list proposed by Kurti:
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca,
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla,
Third Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Cooperation, Fikrim Damka,
Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati,
Minister of Labor, Family and Values of the Liberation War, Andin Hoti,
Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci,
Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla,
Minister of Public Administration and Digitalization, Lulëzon Jagxhiu,
Minister of Health, Arben Vitia,
Minister of Education and Science, Hajrulla Çeku,
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Saranda Bogujevci,
Minister of Sports and Youth, Blerim Gashani,
Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi,
Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Fitore Pacolli,
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Armend Muja,
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Dimal Basha,
Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, Mimoza Kusari-Lila,
Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli,
Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rashic,
Minister of Regional Development, Rasim Demiri.
Kurti promises 1 billion euro investment in defense: We will produce combat drones
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Prime Minister-designate Albin Kurti, in his presentation to MPs, promised that in the next four years of his government, they will invest 1 billion euros in defense.
"In the next four years, we will strengthen alliances, invest 1 billion euros in defense, recruit new soldiers, multiply the number of officers, operationalize the ammunition factory, develop Kosovo's military industry, and produce Made in Kosovo combat drones," Kurti promised.
Kurti also spoke about the dialogue process, saying that we will pursue the normalization of relations with Serbia through constructive and creative dialogue.
"We will pursue the normalization of relations with our northern neighbor, Serbia, through constructive and creative dialogue, through our basic Brussels agreement and the Ohrid implementation appeal. But as we have done in the past four years, normalization is a matter of regulating relations between two states, that is, as a bilateral external report and not intervention or meddling in internal affairs. The government will protect and implement the Constitution and the laws in force in every corner of our country," Kurti said.
He said that they will continue to support the Berlin Process.
"We will continue to strongly support the Berlin Process and the regional common market on the basis of equality and equal representation because we believe that good European neighborliness and regional cooperation contribute to both peace and security. We will work with anyone who extends a hand of cooperation on the basis of mutual respect," Kurti emphasized.
He has promised that in the next mandate they will launch the super works project.
"And for all the progress made in reducing inequality through maternity benefits. The superjob project for women will begin. When a woman is employed, the government supports her with a minimum wage of 500 euros for 6 months. Grandparents who take care of children receive an additional 100 euros per month on top of their basic pension. We are not only helping parents and grandparents, but also the family and the economy," Kurti said.
Kurti begins the presentation by mentioning Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Prime Minister-designate Albin Kurti began his speech in Parliament by saying that the proposal of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office to sentence former KLA leaders to 45 years in prison contradicts the truth and denies the historical and political context of our liberation war.
He said that the session on the formation of the Government and the constitutive session of the Assembly were held late due to the trial of former KLA leaders in The Hague, Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selim and Kadri Veseli.
"The prosecution's request for a sentence of 45 years in prison for each, which also includes allegations of crimes against humanity, is an attempt that contradicts the truth and denies the historical and political context of our liberation war. The position of the Government of the Republic that I lead remains clear: crimes against humanity were committed in Kosovo against the Albanian civilian population, they were committed by the Yugoslav regime of Serbia under Milosevic. This is documented and internationally recognized. The equation between the leaders of the KLA and a genocidal regime is unsustainable," Kurti said.
The session for the formation of the Government begins
The Kosovo Assembly has convened in an extraordinary session to form the Government.
The Assembly convened on Wednesday in a session in which Albulena Haxhiu was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Five vice-presidents have also been elected, including Slavko Simić of the Serbian List.
Session on Government Formation, Haxhiu Invites Ambassadors
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The session on the formation of the Government has been called for 20:45.
Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu has invited ambassadors accredited to Kosovo to this session.
"The Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, is pleased to invite the ambassadors to the plenary session on the occasion of the election of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. The session will be held on February 11, 2026, starting at 20:45 p.m.," the invitation sent by Haxhiu states.
Osmani gives Kurti a mandate to form a government
President Vjosa Osmani has announced that she has mandated the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, as prime minister.
"Today, in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo, I have appointed Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the mandate holder for the formation of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. I wish him success in leading the new Government and working in the service of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. Good luck to you, priests," Osmani wrote on Facebook.
The Kosovo Assembly is expected to convene in a new session tonight to form the Government.
The Assembly convened on Wednesday in a session in which Albulena Haxhiu was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Five vice-presidents have also been elected, including Slavko Simić of the Serbian List.
Kurti goes to Osmani to receive the mandate for prime minister
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has gone to President Vjosa Osmani to receive the mandate for prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Chairwoman of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Arbërie Nagavci, has previously announced that she has submitted to the President the proposal to appoint Kurti as prime minister-designate for the formation of the new Government.
Tahiri: AAK will be part of the session on the formation of the Government, we vote against
The head of the AAK parliamentary group, Besnik Tahiri, has confirmed that the party's MPs will be part of the session on the formation of the Government but will vote against it.
Tahiri, in a statement to the media after the conclusion of the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly, said that we have not seen either a program or a list of candidates for the government cabinet.
"We will participate in the session for the formation of the Government but we do not know yet what the program is nor what the list of candidates for ministers is, but one thing we do know is that as happened last time, it is happening again in a quick procedure without the presentation of a program, both of which are unknown to the citizen. We will be in the session and we will vote against it," Berisha said.
MP Tahirika also commented on the package voting of the deputy speakers of the Kosovo Assembly. Tahiri emphasized that Simić was called a terrorist as an individual but was voted as deputy speaker in a package.
"For AAK, this package of vice-presidents undoubtedly solved a problem because a political issue that was known in the past elections as a political problem turned into a constitutional interpretation, but it was also seen that this package was a kind of camouflage of the voting for vice-president. Slavko Simić was not accepted and was called a terrorist when he was alone, but when he entered the package he was voted in," Tahiri declared.