The snap election was triggered after parliament failed to resolve a months-long dispute over the election of a new president, leading to the legislature’s dissolution in April and extending a period of political uncertainty in Europe’s youngest nation.

Analysts expect Kurti’s Vetevendosje movement to emerge as the largest party once again, although its ability to translate electoral success into effective governance remains uncertain. Even if it secures another victory, the party is expected to require cooperation from rivals to obtain the two-thirds parliamentary majority necessary to elect a president and end the institutional stalemate.

Kosovo has spent much of the past year without a fully operational government as fragmented political forces repeatedly failed to agree on key leadership appointments. The inability to elect first a parliamentary speaker and later a head of state has deepened concerns about governance and reform implementation.

Kurti’s Vetevendosje party won 51.1% of the vote in the December election, improving on its 42% result in February 2025. However, the party was unable to secure support from opposition groups for a presidential candidate, resulting in another collapse of the political process.

The European Union has repeatedly urged Kosovo’s political leaders to establish stable institutions capable of advancing reforms required for eventual membership in the bloc. Political instability has raised concerns in Brussels about the pace of governance, judicial and economic reforms.

Since first taking power in 2021, Vetevendosje has pursued a nationalist and welfare-oriented agenda while maintaining Kosovo’s broadly pro-Western foreign policy orientation. The party has also resisted making additional concessions in negotiations with Serbia, which continues to reject Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence and remains at odds with Pristina over a range of political and security issues.

According to Kosovo’s election commission, more than 900 candidates from 17 political parties and three coalition groups are contesting seats in the 120-member parliament.

More than 2.1 million voters are registered to cast ballots, a figure exceeding Kosovo’s resident population of roughly 1.6 million because of a large diaspora community concentrated mainly in Western Europe. The diaspora has traditionally been an important source of support for Kurti and his party.

The election is being closely watched by European officials and regional observers seeking signs that Kosovo can overcome repeated political deadlocks and restore institutional stability after more than a year of recurring electoral contests.

Preliminary results released by Malta’s Electoral Commission showed Labour securing 52% of the vote, ahead of the opposition Nationalist Party (PN) on 45%, confirming the party’s continued dominance of the Mediterranean island nation’s political landscape.

Abela, 48, sought a fresh mandate a year before the scheduled election, arguing that Malta needed political stability to navigate potential economic fallout from tensions in the Middle East. The island’s economy expanded by 4.0% last year, but policymakers have expressed concern that higher aviation fuel costs could affect tourism, a key pillar of the economy, while also contributing to inflationary pressures.

Speaking to supporters gathered outside Labour headquarters, Abela hailed the result as a historic achievement for the party. Celebrations broke out across Malta, with supporters setting off fireworks and gathering in the streets after preliminary results confirmed Labour’s victory.

The election pitted Abela against Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg, a 30-year-old lawyer who campaigned on a platform of political change. Despite the opposition’s efforts, economic stability remained the dominant issue during the campaign.

Abela has led Malta since 2020, when he succeeded his predecessor following a political crisis linked to the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Concerns over governance and corruption persisted in the background of the campaign, with a 2025 Council of Europe report stating that Malta remained significantly behind in tackling corruption, although the issue featured less prominently in the election debate.

Malta, the European Union’s smallest member state, has experienced rapid economic growth driven by tourism, financial services and online gaming. The country has also undergone a sharp population increase over the past decade, largely due to immigration, fueling construction activity while placing pressure on infrastructure and public services.

The island remains heavily dependent on imports and vulnerable to external economic shocks. Labour has pledged to maintain subsidies on household energy bills, a policy that has helped shield consumers from higher energy costs.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about extensive development and its impact on heritage sites and natural resources, while climate-related risks including drought and desertification received limited attention from the major parties during the campaign.

Abela called the early election last month, arguing that Malta needed a renewed mandate to navigate growing geopolitical uncertainty and shield its import-dependent economy from external shocks. Opinion surveys place Labour comfortably ahead of the opposition Nationalist Party led by Alex Borg.

The Mediterranean island nation, heavily reliant on tourism, financial services and online gaming, faces mounting pressure from rising energy costs due to the Iran conflict. The government has pledged an additional 250 million euros in subsidies to contain energy prices.

Domestic concerns have also dominated the campaign, including rapid population growth, overdevelopment, pressure on healthcare services and allegations of corruption. A 2025 Council of Europe report said Malta remained behind European standards in tackling graft.

Abela, who became prime minister in 2020 after the resignation of his predecessor during the fallout from journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, is also facing renewed scrutiny ahead of the upcoming trial of businessman Yorgen Fenech, accused of orchestrating the 2017 killing.