Opposition lawmaker Time Kadrijaj hurls eggs at Kurti during chaotic session over delayed speaker election; parliament suspended amid prolonged political deadlock.
A session of Kosovo’s parliament descended into chaos on Saturday when an opposition lawmaker pulled eggs from her handbag and threw them at acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, forcing the suspension of proceedings in Europe’s youngest democracy.
Time Kadrijaj, a member of the conservative Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party, stood up during the plenary session, shouted “Shame, shame!” and began lobbing eggs one by one at Kurti, who was seated in the front row. At least four eggs were thrown before other lawmakers and security personnel intervened. The chamber filled with shouts as the session’s chair ordered the live broadcast cut and security rushed to protect the prime minister.
Egg Attack Highlights Kosovo’s Deepening Political Crisis:
The dramatic protest came after Kurti told parliament he needed more time to hold talks with other parties before proposing a candidate for speaker. The request followed Kosovo’s snap general election in June, the country’s third in less than two years. Kurti’s left-wing Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party won the largest share of seats but fell short of a majority, leaving the formation of new institutions stalled.
Under Kosovo’s constitutional process, parliament must first elect a speaker before a government can be formed. A deadline for constituting the new legislature passed without agreement, deepening a political crisis that has dragged on for nearly two years. Successive parliaments have collapsed amid deep divisions, raising the prospect of yet another early election.
Kurti appeared unfazed by the egg attack. Speaking afterwards, he said that if being pelted with eggs was the price of keeping political dialogue alive, “I am happy to pay this price.” He expressed greater frustration that opposition leaders had refused to meet him for talks on broader institutional arrangements, including the selection of a new president.
Kosovo Parliament Erupts as Political Standoff Intensifies:
The incident is not without precedent in Kosovo’s turbulent parliamentary history. In previous years, lawmakers from Kurti’s own party released tear gas in the chamber during heated sessions, and a former prime minister was also pelted with eggs in 2015. Saturday’s events underscored the raw frustrations that have characterised politics in the small Balkan nation since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Kosovo remains outside the European Union and continues to face challenges in normalising relations with Serbia, while domestic politics have been marked by repeated institutional deadlocks. The failure to form a stable government has delayed key decisions and fuelled public discontent.
As security cleared the chamber and eggs lay smashed on the floor, the episode highlighted the depth of the current impasse. With negotiations still unresolved and another session yet to be scheduled, Kosovo’s political leaders face mounting pressure to break the cycle of elections and paralysis that has defined the country’s recent political life.