Veton Berisha hurls eggs at Albin Kurti in parliament

An opposition lawmaker hurled eggs at Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti during a parliamentary session in Pristina today, disrupting the swearing-in of lawmakers after June’s snap election.

The attack came as Kurti entered the assembly chamber to preside over the vote to constitute Kosovo’s new parliament. Video footage showed eggs splattering on the floor near Kurti’s feet as he walked to the podium. The lawmaker, identified as Veton Berisha from the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), was immediately restrained by security and removed from the chamber. Berisha later said he acted in protest over what he called “Kurti’s authoritarian rule” and the government’s failure to address economic hardship in the country.

This is the second time Kurti has faced direct aggression in parliament in under a year. In October 2023, another opposition MP threw a shoe at him during a heated debate over EU integration talks. Kurti has been prime minister since 2021 and leads the Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) party, which has governed without a majority since June’s elections, leaving it reliant on shifting coalitions. The snap vote was triggered by a political crisis over government corruption and stalled EU accession talks.

Parliament is expected to reconvene tomorrow to continue the swearing-in process, but tensions remain high. Analysts say the egg-throwing incident reflects deeper frustration among opposition parties over Kurti’s leadership style and stalled reforms. The EU has repeatedly urged Kosovo to stabilize its government and accelerate reforms to move closer to EU membership. With no clear majority, the new parliament may struggle to pass key laws, increasing the risk of further instability. The attack underscores the fragile political climate in Kosovo, where frustration over governance is boiling over into public confrontations.