Kurti no longer needs cooperation with Albanian parties to form the government, which requires at least 61 votes from the parliament’s 120 deputies, but he does need cooperation for the election of the President, an issue that led the country to snap elections in June of this year.

To elect the President, a quorum of at least 80 deputies is required in the chamber. After a meeting held on Friday (10.07.2026) with the leader of the party that came second in the election, Bedri Hamza of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Albin Kurti said he believes there is willingness to constitute the institutions, but did not announce that there is an agreement with the PDK.

On the election of the government, Kurti said the responsibility falls on him, but for the election of the president, according to him, the responsibility falls on all parties.

“Our starting point would be a consensual figure, someone from no party, beyond the controversies of the current scene, someone with proven national and professional values and who would be an expression of unity. For governing, the responsibility falls on us, but for the election of the president, we all have responsibility,” Kurti said, adding that in order to be certain about the election of the President, the presence of more than 80 deputies must be secured.

The chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, Bedri Hamza, for his part, was firm in his position. He said that in this mandate the PDK has decided to remain in opposition, without specifying whether PDK deputies will stay in the chamber to make a quorum for the election of the President. The PDK has 22 deputies. “We have said that we have no red lines and that we are open to comprehensive political agreements, including all institutions. Based on the correct talks, our position is that the PDK in this mandate is a party in opposition, and we wish Mr. Kurti and all those who meet and talk success,” Bedri Hamza said.

VV-LDK relations

At a longer meeting, lasting around three hours, on Friday evening Kurti also met with the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku. Kurti stressed that the talks with the LDK, which he had previously preferred to have in government, “are taking place around concepts, principles, deadlines and functions.”

With this, Kurti is aiming for a broader political agreement. “We are discussing concepts, principles, as well as schedules and functions. It is a major broad undertaking that requires trust and good faith, and it requires time to be realized. We will be transparent with you regarding the process we are in, and there is also the confidentiality of these talks, which must result in concrete achievements so that we have something to make public,” Kurti declared after the meeting with Abdixhiku.

The latter was accompanied at the meeting with Kurti by former president Vjosa Osmani, whom Kurti did not want to make president months earlier. LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku described the talks with Albin Kurti as a good and welcome step to open, as he said, “other chapters for meeting and discussion,” while stressing the necessity of institutional stability. “The LDK seeks institutional stability and certainly democratic balance, in which all sides contribute with full awareness to provide the country with sustainable institutions,” he said.

The EU calls for functioning institutions

Albin Kurti, the acting prime minister whose party won the June 7 elections, urgently needs an agreement with the opposition to ensure that Kosovo will have a new president, and thus that the country returns to the track of institutional stability. International authorities have called on Kosovo’s political class to be constructive in talks, find ways to cooperate, and give Kosovo stable institutions.

The head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, in an editorial, reminded Kosovo’s political leaders that the country held three rounds of elections within a year and a half, and that now citizens tired of elections are expecting functional institutions.

“Across the European Union, political parties compete fiercely during elections, but are expected to cooperate afterward in the interest of institutional stability. Compromise is not a sign of weakness. It is an essential democratic skill and lies at the heart of the European Union’s daily decision-making.

As Kosovo’s citizens aspire to EU membership, reaching a political compromise today would send a clear and concrete signal that Kosovo’s political leaders are ready to embrace the political culture on which the European Union is built,” Palatova wrote.

According to her, quoting the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, “The European Union can support Kosovo, but it cannot do its homework. Responsibility for advancing Kosovo’s European future ultimately belongs to Kosovo’s political leaders and institutions.”

Constitutional deadlines for creating institutions

Based on the final result of the June 8 elections, certified two days ago, the constitutional deadline for establishing the new institutions has now begun to run. The Vetëvendosje Movement, led by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, has secured 53 mandates in the Assembly. The opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), won 22 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) 18 seats, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) seven deputies.

Srpska Lista secured 9 seats, while the other minorities 11. Following the certification of the results, the Election Law provides that the acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, must call the session to constitute the Assembly, which must be held within 30 days from the day the results are certified. The Speaker of the Assembly is proposed by LVV, as the largest parliamentary subject, and is elected with at least 61 votes. If the same candidate does not receive the votes after three attempts, another candidate must be proposed. The vote for the Speaker must be open.

After the election of the Speaker, the Assembly proceeds with the election of five deputy speakers, three of whom are proposed by the three largest parliamentary subjects, LVV, PDK and LDK, one is proposed by the deputies of the Serbian community, and one by the deputies of the other non-majority communities. In this way, the Assembly of Kosovo is considered constituted only after the Speaker and the five deputy speakers have been elected. After the full constitution of the Assembly according to the Election Law, two separate constitutional procedures open, one for the formation of the Government and one for the election of the President. Election monitors say these procedures do not exclude one another and that neither the Constitution nor the rulings of the Constitutional Court make the formation of the Government conditional on the prior election of the President./DW

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Meanwhile, the European currency, the euro, will be bought at 93.3 lek and sold at 94.1 lek.

The Swiss franc, in the Albanian market today, will be bought at 100.8 lek and sold at 101.8 lek.

Meanwhile, the British pound will be bought at 109 lek and sold at 110.1 lek.

Below, we bring you the data and exchange rates for all foreign currencies:

The post Exchange rates: At what prices the dollar and euro are bought and sold, and what is happening with other currencies appeared first on Albeu.com.

According to official sources, the congestion has come as a result of the large number of holidaymakers traveling between North Macedonia and Albania, also driven by the tourist season.

To manage the situation and ease traffic flow, border authorities have gone on full alert.

The Albanian side is operating with all available counters. Document checks are being carried out at a fast pace to reduce waiting times.

Border Police are calling on travelers to remain patient and avoid peak traffic hours, choosing alternative routes or times whenever possible.

The high volume of movement is expected to continue throughout the weekend, mainly influenced by the return of tourists heading toward North Macedonia after finishing their holidays on the Albanian coast.

The post Heavy traffic at Qafë-Thanë, citizens face kilometer-long queues appeared first on Albeu.com.

In an open conversation on her “service95bookclub” podcast with renowned writer and academic Lea Ypi, the artist expressed her deep concern about the way the environment and political decision-making are being handled in the country.

Dua Lipa specifically addressed the steps taken by the Albanian government, emphasizing the importance of transparency and public involvement in decisions with a major environmental impact.

“We cannot talk about Albania’s history without talking a little about Albania today. For me, it is concerning in principle that the government simply changes the law to remove environmental protections without public consultation,” Dua Lipa said.

Together with writer Lea Ypi, they talk about the reality of political change and the inspiration they draw from the protests currently taking place in Albania.

Lipa and Ypi discussed her memoir “Free” – a deeply personal exploration of growing up as Albania’s communist regime was collapsing – and what it means to navigate the promises and contradictions of freedom.

The full podcast will be published next Tuesday.

The post Dua Lipa Speaks for the First Time About the Protests in Albania appeared first on Albeu.com.

As a result of the collision, a woman was trapped inside one of the vehicles. Firefighters had to intervene to get her out, and they managed to free her.

Police officers and emergency teams are at the scene of the accident, while efforts are continuing to clarify the circumstances and causes of the crash.

The post Two cars crash on the Elbasan–Librazhd stretch, one woman remains trapped in the vehicle appeared first on Albeu.com.

Enca Haxhia, through an InstaStory post, shared a photo that sparked reactions from her followers.

The photos showed the singer next to Kanye West, even kissing him.

In her story, she also wrote an ironic and humorous caption: “Stay home tonight, Kanye is busy.”

The post (PHOTO) ENCA AND KANYE WEST IN LOVE? The singer “stirs up” the internet with her post: Stay home tonight, he’s busy… appeared first on Albeu.com.

According to him, Turkey had also invited West, but Albania’s economic capacity is far more limited.

“At Pediatrics, there was no generator and no fuel. For the personal interests of someone whose name I do not want to mention, more than 4 million euros are being paid to present Albania like this. One example is enough to bring down this disgusting propaganda. A few years ago, Turkey invited this singer too, but it paid 4 million euros not from emergency funds but from its own budget. Turkey’s budget is 50 times larger than Albania’s,” he said.

The post “There was neither a generator nor fuel at Pediatrics” / Enraged protester at rally against Rama: 4.2 million euros for propaganda, disgusting! They should all leave appeared first on Albeu.com.

“Once again, let the chants be heard all the way to Casa Italia. I don’t know whether you have noticed, but the entire state has been placed at Kanye West’s service. Even the buses had taken on Kanye West’s name. Even the buses that never come for the citizens.

Public transport is never there for the citizens. Our government had to pay 4 million euros, but still, there are more of us here than there. In this square, there are free people, singing the song of freedom.

The post “The state has been put at Kanye West’s service, even the buses bear his name, while public transport has failed Albanians,” activist says: Let’s show that together we can do it. Rama resigns appeared first on Albeu.com.

Rama underlined that he has always respected Kosovo’s institutional independence and that he has never had any aim of interfering in its internal political developments. He also recalled a period when he had helped create dialogue among Albanian political actors in North Macedonia, stressing that the initiative had come from the parties themselves.

The head of government also touched on his ties with Ali Ahmeti, admitting that they are friends, but categorically denying any accusations of interference in election campaigns.

Regarding Albin Kurti, Rama said that although they have different approaches, they share the same strategic goals.

“From early on I had my red line, I do not play the father for anyone who has their own home, Kosovo has its own institutions. There was a time when Kosovo was being told what it should do, those were brutal years that brought only damage. In cooperation with Macedonia we had a roundtable, I do not remember the year, I facilitated the meeting between them. It was not easy for them to sit at the table, but it was their request, it was not my initiative. When they came, they could not stay in the same room with one another.

I have a friendship with Ali Ahmeti that I do not deny, but no one can say with facts that I entered the campaign, far from it. I have always been respectful.

Meanwhile, Kosovo does not depend on Albania, I meet Albin with pleasure because our conversations flow, if there were cameras at our meetings the whole world would be surprised. Fortunately, our goals are shared, our methods are different,” Rama said.

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“I am at the protest for my future and I want to say that Rama should leave because all the students and people my age have risen up. In Albania, our properties, which are public and not Edi Rama’s private property, are being sold. I do not want construction in protected areas. Vlora is a very beautiful destination and there was no reason for him to sell it. I want a secure future, which is why I came out to protest,” she said.

The post “I protest for my future” / Teenager’s message to Rama: Leave, because everyone has risen up; the territories are not your private property appeared first on Albeu.com.