Kosovo - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Kosovo, it was name may derive from the Serbian word kos, meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 38 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine, singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan
National symbols
Six five-pointed white stars.
The flag
The National flag of Kosovo has .
Info
The National Anthem
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More about the government of Kosovo
| Date of Independence | 17 February 2008 (from Serbia) |
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| National holiday | Independence Day, 17 February (2008) |
| Legal system | civil law system |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1974, 1990; latest (post-independence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008 |
| Amendment process | Proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021) |
| Head of government | Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet elected by the Assembly |
| Election/appointment process | president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; if a candidate does not reach this threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected; prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly |
| Most recent election date | 3-4 April 2021 |
| Election results | 2021: Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (Guxo!) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (LVV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67 for, 30 against 2017: Ramush HARADINAJ (AAK) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 61 for, 1 abstention, 0 against (opposition boycott) 2016: Hashim THACI elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Hashim THACI (PDK) 71 votes |
| Expected date of next election | 2026 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 120 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 2/14/2021 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | Self-Determination Movement (LVV) (58), Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) (19), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) (15), Serb List (10), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) (8), other (10) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 34% |
| Expected date of next election | 2025 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges and organized into Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Property Agency and Special Chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Judicial Council, a 13-member independent body staffed by judges and lay members, and also responsible for overall administration of Kosovo's judicial system; judges appointed by the president of the Republic of Kosovo; judges appointed until mandatory retirement age; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Assembly and appointed by the president of the republic to serve single, 9-year terms |
| Subordinate courts | Court of Appeals (organized into 4 departments: General, Serious Crime, Commercial Matters, and Administrative Matters); Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022) |
| Chancery | 3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 450-2130 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 735-0609 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] U.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net) |
| Consulate(s) general | New York |
| Consulate(s) | Des Moines (IA) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025) |
| Embassy | Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina |
| Mailing address | 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520 |
| Telephone | [383] 38-59-59-3000 |
| FAX | [383] 38-604-890 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://xk.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Medieval Monuments in Kosovo |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Kosovo
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Kosovo
Want to know more about Kosovo? Check all different factbooks for Kosovo below.
