Kosovo’s acting president has announced a snap election scheduled for June 7

Kosovo’s acting President Albulena Haxhiu announced on Thursday a snap election scheduled for June 7, marking the third election in just over a year, following the parliament’s inability to elect a new head of state.

The vote extends a political crisis in Europe’s youngest country, which lacked a fully functioning government for much of last year due to a divided parliament’s inability to elect a speaker for several months.

We are delayed in implementing reforms without justification. “We cannot afford to lose time,” said Haxhiu, the acting president and speaker of the parliament, following discussions with political leaders.

Lawmakers faced a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to select a president following the conclusion of Vjosa Osmani’s term earlier this month. However, Prime Minister Albin Kurti was unable to gain the necessary support from the opposition for his nominee.

Kurti’s Vetevendosje party appeared poised to resolve months of political stalemate following a decisive election victory in December.