Kosovo lawmakers elect economist Justina Shiroka Pula as the country’s new president in a late-night parliamentary vote, narrowly avoiding a snap election. The session runs into the early hours and is presented by outlets as a step taken to avert an imminent political crisis.
Pula’s election ends a prolonged period of legislative deadlock, which one report characterizes as lasting more than 19 months. The presidency is largely symbolic in Kosovo’s political system, but the vote is portrayed as significant for restoring institutional functioning and stability. The outlets also note that Pula becomes the third woman to hold the presidency since Kosovo’s post-war independence from Serbia, highlighting the historical context of women’s representation in the role.
