Albin Kurti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albin Kurti
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Kurti in 2023
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| 4th & 6th Prime Minister of Kosovo | |
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Caretaker
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| Assumed office 22 March 2021 |
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| President |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Avdullah Hoti |
| In office 3 February 2020 – 3 June 2020 |
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| President | Hashim Thaçi |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Ramush Haradinaj |
| Succeeded by | Avdullah Hoti |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 3 June 2020 – 22 March 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Kadri Veseli |
| Succeeded by | Enver Hoxhaj |
| In office 9 December 2014 – 3 February 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Isa Mustafa |
| Succeeded by | Kadri Veseli |
| Leader of Vetëvendosje | |
| Assumed office 21 January 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Visar Ymeri |
| In office 12 June 2005 – 28 February 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Visar Ymeri |
| Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo | |
| In office 2010 – 3 February 2020 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 March 1975 Pristina, SAP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Nationality |
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| Political party | Vetëvendosje |
| Spouse | Rita Augestad Knudsen |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Pristina |
| Signature | .svg){kind=small} |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kosova |
| Political representative |  Kosovo Liberation Army |
| Service years | 1998–1999 |
Albin Kurti, born on March 24, 1975, is a politician from Kosovo. He has served as the Prime Minister of Kosovo since 2021. He also held this important role from February to June 2020.
Kurti first became well-known in 1997. He was a leader in student protests at the University of Pristina. These protests in 1997 and 1998 were peaceful. Later, he worked with Adem Demaçi, who represented the Kosovo Liberation Army. Kurti has also been a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo since 2010.
Contents
Life and Early Career
Albin Kurti was born in Pristina, Kosovo, on March 24, 1975. At that time, Kosovo was part of a country called Yugoslavia. His father, Zaim, was an engineer from Montenegro. His mother, Arife, was a teacher from Pristina. Albin has two brothers, Arianit and Taulant. He completed his schooling in Pristina. In 2003, he earned a degree in Telecommunications and Computer Engineering from the University of Pristina.
Student Activism
Kurti became well-known in October 1997. He was a leader of student protests in Kosovo. Albanian students protested because Yugoslav police had taken over the University of Pristina. Since 1991, Albanian students and teachers could not use the university buildings. They had to hold classes in other places. The protests were met with force. However, Kurti and the students continued their peaceful resistance. They organized more protests in the months that followed. In July 1998, Kurti worked with Adem Demaçi. Demaçi was a representative for the UÇK group. Because of these actions, Kurti became a target for the Yugoslav police.
Imprisonment and Release
In April 1999, Kurti was arrested by Yugoslav forces. He was treated harshly. He was first held in Dubrava Prison. Later, he was moved to a prison in Požarevac. He was accused of serious crimes against the state. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In December 2001, Kurti was released. This happened after the new government in Yugoslavia pardoned him. There was also strong international pressure for his release. After being freed, he worked outside traditional political parties. He often spoke out against the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). He also criticized corruption. He organized peaceful protests. These protests supported families whose loved ones went missing during the war. He also supported Kosovo's right to govern itself. In 2003, he officially graduated from the University of Prishtina. He was active in the Action for Kosovo Network (AKN). This group worked for human rights, social justice, education, and culture.
Founding Vetëvendosje
On June 12, 2005, AKN activists wrote messages on UNMIK buildings. They called for "No negotiations, Self-Determination." Police arrested many activists, including Kurti. After this, AKN changed its name to the Self-Determination Movement, or Vetëvendosje. This group wanted the people of Kosovo to vote on their future. They believed a vote was the best way to achieve a democratic solution for Kosovo.
In February 2007, Vetëvendosje protested against the Ahtisaari Plan. They felt this plan would divide Kosovo. The protest became violent, and some people were injured or lost their lives. Kurti was arrested again. He was held until July 2007, then placed under house arrest. His legal process faced criticism. He was later sentenced to nine months. Kurti always supported peaceful resistance.
Entering Politics
In 2010, Vetëvendosje entered Kosovo's political scene. They ran in the elections for the first time. Albin Kurti was their candidate for prime minister. Vetëvendosje won 14 out of 120 seats. This made them the third largest political group. Vetëvendosje did not agree with the Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. Kurti and other Vetëvendosje members were removed from parliament. This happened because they disrupted a session.
Kurti ran for prime minister again in 2014. Vetëvendosje again came in third, winning 16 seats. Kurti and his party were involved in protests inside the parliament. These protests gained international attention.
In the 2017 election, Vetëvendosje grew much larger. They became the biggest individual political party in Kosovo. They won 32 seats. Albin Kurti received the most votes of any politician in Kosovo. During this time, Kurti was the leader of the opposition. Vetëvendosje worked with another opposition party, LDK. They put strong pressure on the government. In 2018, Kurti faced legal consequences for his actions during protests in 2015.
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July 2019. This led to early elections in October 2019. In these elections, Kurti's Vetëvendosje won the most votes. They became the leading political force in Kosovo. Kurti's support grew even more. He became the Prime Minister of Kosovo in February 2020.
Becoming Prime Minister
In November 2019, a strong earthquake hit Albania. Kurti visited the affected area. He emphasized that Kosovo and Albania should work together.
First Term as Prime Minister
In March 2020, Kurti changed his Interior Minister. This was due to disagreements about handling the coronavirus pandemic. The minister wanted to declare a state of emergency. This would have given more power to the Kosovo Security Council. The Democratic League of Kosovo, a partner in the government, disagreed with Kurti's decision. They called for a vote to remove the government. On March 25, 82 members of the Kosovo Assembly voted to remove Kurti's government. This was the first time a government was removed due to disagreements over a pandemic response.
Kurti's government continued to serve in a temporary role. This lasted until June 3, 2020. Then, Avdullah Hoti was chosen as the new Prime Minister.
On January 26, 2021, Kurti was not allowed to run in the 2021 Kosovan parliamentary election. This was because of a past conviction. However, his party still won the election by a large margin. They received over 50% of the votes.
In the elections on February 9, 2025, Kurti's party won again. They received 41% of the votes. Albin Kurti became the politician with the most votes in Kosovo's history. He received 337,000 votes.
Second Term as Prime Minister
On February 3, 2020, Albin Kurti was first elected Prime Minister of Kosovo. He received 66 votes in favor. One of his first decisions was to lower the salaries of ministers. He returned them to their previous amounts. This meant the Prime Minister's salary went from €2,950 to €1,500.
Kurti's government also planned to introduce a three-month military service. He believes this is important for Kosovo's defense.
Kurti was elected Prime Minister for a second time on March 22, 2021. He received 67 votes from the assembly members.
Key Policies and Actions
Energy and Resources
In 2021, Kurti's government faced a big energy challenge. This was the largest energy crisis in Kosovo since 2010. The government declared an energy state of emergency in December 2021. In July 2022, the United States gave Kosovo $236 million. This money is for an energy project. Kosovo will get large batteries to store energy. These batteries can store about 340 MWh of electricity. This means electricity produced at one time can be saved. It can then be used when more energy is needed.
The government also invested in a Thermal Plant. This will increase energy production by 30 MW. It will also extend the life of TC Kosova B. This is done without increasing pollution. The government's first auction for Solar Energy is still open. It aims for 100 MW of solar power by January 2024.
Justice System Improvements
During his election campaign, Kurti promised to improve the justice system. He also promised "Vetting." After winning, his government brought a plan for justice reform to the Assembly. This happened on September 4, 2022. On February 2, the government passed a law. This law allows for the seizure of unjustified assets. However, some critics said the law did not follow Kosovo's Constitution. They sent the law to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo for review.
Supporting Families and Economy
For 2023, Kurti's government set aside €60 million. This money is for allowances for mothers and children. Children under 2 years old get €20 per month. Children under 16 years old get €10 per month. Unemployed mothers receive the minimum wage of €250 for six months of maternity leave.
The government also increased payments for children. Now, each child gets €20 per month until age 16. If a family has three or more children, each child gets €30.
Kurti has also stated that Kosovo's economy has grown. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased. He said they are working to reduce poverty. He also mentioned that 150,000 private sector workers will get a salary increase.
The government has also approved a draft law on health insurance. This law will be presented to the Assembly for approval.
Strengthening Security
The Kurti government has increased the budget for defense. In 2017, the budget for the Kosovo Security Force was €51 million. In 2022, it grew to €102 million. In 2023, it reached €123 million. For 2024, €153 million has been set aside. The Security Force has bought six drones from Turkey. They have also made other agreements to buy weapons. More new recruits have joined the Kosovo Security Force. This has increased the number of soldiers.
The U.S. government approved a possible sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Kosovo. This sale is estimated at $75 million. Kosovo asked to buy 246 Javelin missiles. Serbia has expressed disappointment about this. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Kosovo should not have an army. He believes this goes against international law. Serbia still considers Kosovo part of its territory.
In November 2024, Prime Minister Kurti signed a decision. This decision starts the process to create Kosovo's defense industry. In December 2024, Kurti announced an agreement. He signed it with a Turkish defense company, MKEK. This agreement is for a factory in Kosovo. The factory will produce ammunition and drones.
International Relations
With Albania
Kurti did not support the "Open Balkan" project. This project included Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia. Kurti believed Serbia was the biggest producer in the region. He thought opening borders to their goods would harm the economies of Albania and Kosovo.
During a visit to Tirana in 2020, Kurti spoke with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Kurti argued that economic projects should benefit Albanians. He said that trade cooperation between Albania and Kosovo needed to increase. Rama disagreed with Kurti. He said opening borders was good for the whole region.
The European Union has remained neutral on this project. They said it would be successful if other countries joined. These countries include Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In June 2023, Rama announced that Albania had left the "Open Balkan" initiative. He said it had achieved its goal. He felt it was time to focus on joining the European Union.
The Serbian government was surprised by this decision. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said she would talk with Rama. She did not think the "Open Balkans" project was over. She believed it was still in the best interest of their nations.
Discussions on Unification
Albin Kurti strongly supports direct democracy. He has often said that Kosovo's Constitution should allow direct public votes. One topic he believes should be decided by a vote is the possible joining of Kosovo and Albania. Kurti has often criticized the constitution for not allowing such a vote. In 2018, Kurti said that Kosovo should have the right to join Albania. However, he added that they would not start another war for this goal.
After the 2019 election, Kurti said that people in Kosovo were not seeking to join Albania right away. Instead, they wanted to work closely with Albania and the EU. He said this would happen through Kosovo's success as a state. However, Kurti has stated that if a vote were held on joining, he would vote yes.
With Serbia
Kurti has said that Serbia is a threat to Kosovo's security. He claims Serbia has built 48 military bases along the border. Kosovo's government has asked the United States to make Camp Bondsteel a permanent American base. KFOR troops are currently stationed there. In June 2023, Kosovo declared "Civil Defense" and "North Brigade" as terrorist groups. They claim these groups attacked Kosovo Police and KFOR members. They also say these groups have support from Serbia. Kosovo's allies said the government did not consult them before this decision.
On September 24, 2023, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police. This happened in the village of Banjska. A Kosovo policeman lost his life. Kosovo police killed three attackers. The rest of the group escaped into Serbia. The European Union called the attack a terrorist act. They asked Serbia to bring the attackers to justice. The United States also asked Serbia to send the alleged leader, Milan Radoičić, to Kosovo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia's justice system would handle Milan Radoičić. He said he would not be sent to Kosovo. This is because Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Kurti has accused Russia of encouraging these attacks. He believes Russia wants to destabilize the region.
When he was in the opposition, Kurti had strong views on talks between Kosovo and Serbia. He criticized Kosovo's approach to these talks. He said discussions should be based on fair conditions. He also criticized the government for not demanding certain things from Serbia. These included finding missing persons from the Kosovo War. He also wanted Serbia to pay for damages and return stolen funds.
After the 2019 election, Kurti said that good talks were needed with Serbia. He said Kosovo first needed to talk with its Serb minority and the European Union. He sees these talks as a top priority.
During his second term as prime minister in 2023, Kurti took part in talks. These talks were led by the European Union. He met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. This led to the Ohrid Agreement. Based on Kurti's policy, this agreement requires both sides to recognize each other's symbols and documents. However, it does not require Serbia to formally recognize Kosovo as a country. The plan for putting this agreement into action is still being worked on.
With the United States
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During his first term, Kurti had a difficult relationship with the U.S. administration under Donald Trump. Kurti accused Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, of discussing changing Kosovo's borders with Serbia.
Grenell supported Kurti's opponent, Hashim Thaçi. Grenell wanted Kosovo to remove tariffs on goods from Serbia. This would help establish direct rail and air links. Kurti said Kosovo would only remove tariffs if Serbia also removed its trade restrictions.
In October 2020, Kurti supported Joe Biden for U.S. president.
Kosovo's government agreed to shelter refugees from Afghanistan. These were Afghan citizens at risk because they worked with the United States and NATO. An agreement allowed the U.S. to temporarily house a limited number of Afghans in Kosovo. Their visa applications for the U.S. needed more time to process. About 700 refugees were housed at Camp Bondsteel in Ferizaj.
With Greece
Prime Minister Albin Kurti has visited Greece several times. He has taken part in various forums there. In 2022, Kurti attended the "Delphi" economic forum. Also, Greece's Foreign Minister, Nikoas Dendias, visited Pristina. He met with Prime Minister Kurti. They discussed cooperation between their countries.
Dora Bakoyannis, a Greek politician, prepared a report for the Council of Europe. She stated that Kosovo meets the requirements to join the Council of Europe. Her report was approved by most votes in the Council of Europe. This caused a reaction from Serbia. Serbia's government said Dora Bakoyannis had harmed relations between Serbia and Greece. They disagreed with her recommendation for Kosovo to join the Council of Europe.
Good relations with Kosovo have helped Greece increase trade. Greece has exported goods worth €330 million to Kosovo. Greece recognizes Kosovo's official documents. It also has an office in Pristina.
With Albanian Parties in North Macedonia
Albanian parties in Kosovo work with Albanian political parties in North Macedonia. According to census data, 446,245 Albanians live in North Macedonia. This is about 24.30% of the total population. The number increases to 29.52% when including citizens living abroad.
Kosovo's political leaders have often supported the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) in North Macedonia. This party is led by Ali Ahmeti. Ahmeti was part of the government in North Macedonia.
However, Albin Kurti's new government has had disagreements with Ali Ahmeti. Kurti was against the "Open Balkan" initiative. This initiative included Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania. He believed it favored Serbia and harmed other economies. This caused disagreements with Ali Ahmeti.
Kurti also accused Ali Ahmeti of supporting the idea of exchanging territories. This idea was proposed by Kosovo's former president, Hashim Thaçi. Kurti was against any exchange of territories. In the 2024 elections in North Macedonia, a new Albanian party called ""VLEN"" was formed. Kurti met with leaders from VLEN. He showed his support for them in the elections. The leader of VLEN is Arben Taravari. He was also the mayor of Gostivar.
Bujar Osmani, a high official from the Democratic Union for Integration, accused Kurti of interfering in the elections. However, he believed Kurti's actions would not affect Albanian voters. Osmani stated that his party would win seats and be part of the government again.
EFTA Agreement
Kosovo signed an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on January 22, 2025. This happened after more than two and a half years of talks.
This agreement removes tariffs. This means companies in Kosovo will find it easier to export goods. They can export to EFTA member countries. EFTA members include Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Trade between Kosovo and EFTA began in 2008. Since then, it has grown steadily. In 2023, it reached its highest level at €176 million.
Kosovo mainly exports furniture, plastics, iron, steel, and wood products to EFTA countries. It imports vehicles, medicines, tobacco, and machinery from them.
Personal Life
Kurti is married to Rita Augestad Knudsen, a researcher from Norway. They have one daughter together. He speaks Albanian, Serbian, and English. Besides being a citizen of Kosovo, Kurti also holds Albanian citizenship. He has voted in Albanian elections.
See also
In Spanish: Albin Kurti para niños
