Kosovo: left parties form new government

Kosovo's leftist parties formed a new government on Monday after winning a landslide election victory last month.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the anti-establishment Vetevendosje party, and his cabinet won 67 votes in parliament out of 120 seats, with 30 votes against.

Read also: In Kosovo, the young guard drives out the ex-guerrillas

This election marks the third change of government since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Kosovo, killing nearly 1,800 and exacerbating the province's economic, social and health crises.

As vaccinations have started across Europe, Kosovo, one of the continent's poorest regions, is still struggling to get doses for its 1.8 million people.

"Within a year, we plan to provide vaccines to 60% of the population, which would be enough to return to a normal situation,"

Albin Kurti told the Assembly during the presentation of his 15-member cabinet. . His government is expected to come under heavy pressure from the EU and the US to resume talks with Serbia. Belgrade still rejects the independence declared by Kosovo in 2008, a source of major tensions in the region.