COVID19 Update

• Despite declining numbers of new COVID-19 cases over the past weeks, the number of new cases rose sharply over the weekend by 76 cases. This development jeopardises the de-confinement plan, which entered phase three on 1 June but remained conditional on the state of new COVID-19 cases.
• On 3 June, the Parliament voted to electa new coalition government led by LDK’s Avdullah Hoti. This follows the successful vote of no confidence against the previous government, which complicated Kosovo’s initial response to the crisis and saw former Prime Minister Albin Kurti lead a caretaker government until a new governing coalition was formed.
• The decision to elect a new government without general elections was enabled by a 29 May decision by the Constitutional Court to reverse a previous decision blocking Hoti’s nomination. This ruling enabled the formation of a new government without holding new elections.
• It is unclear how the new government will react to the resurgence of new COVID-19 cases, or whether new containment measures will be put in place.