Justina Shiroka-Pula elected president: How Kosovo reached a last-minute deal

K2.0 explains how the election of the president, changes to the Law on Specialist Chambers and the political deadlock came together, pushing Kosovo into the final hours of a constitutional deadline.

byDafina Halili|07.10.2026

In-depth | Politics

February 9, 2025

Parliamentary elections; VV comes first, but without a majority

December 28, 2025

Early elections after a year-long deadlock

March 5, 2026

Presidential session fails due to lack of quorum

March 6, 2026

President Osmani dissolves the Assembly

March 25, 2026

Constitutional Court finds that the dissolution has no legal effect; the Assembly is given 34 days

April 4, 2026

Osmani’s term ends; Haxhiu becomes acting president

April 28, 2026

The Assembly fails again and is dissolved

June 7, 2026

Third parliamentary elections within 16 months

August 6, 2026

Constitutive session begins; the 60-day deadline for electing the president begins on August 8

August 31, 2026

VV and LDK agree on Bekim Sejdiu

September 9, 2026

Haxhiu is elected Assembly Speaker

September 13, 2026

Assembly is constituted without PDK and AAK

September 14, 2026

Sejdiu withdraws his candidacy

September 16, 2026

Verdict against Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi

September 21, 2026

PDK proposes changes to the law on the Specialist Chambers

September 23, 2026

Constitutional Court sets October 6 as the final deadline

October 4, 2026

Haxhiu’s six-month term as acting president expires

October 5, 2026

Law passes first reading with 91 votes; clashes outside the Assembly

October 6, 2026

The deadline for electing the president expires at midnight

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Dafina Halili

Dafina Halili is a senior journalist at K2.0, covering mainly human rights and social justice issues. Dafina has a master’s degree in diversity and the media from the University of Westminster in London, U.K..