Kosovo - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Kosovo, it was name derives from the Serbian "kos" meaning "blackbird," an ellipsis (linguistic omission) for "kosove polje" or "field of the blackbirds". 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; national colors: blue, gold, white.

The flag
The National flag of Kosovo has centered on a dark blue field is a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks.
The National Anthem
Title Europe
Lyric/music no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI
More about the government of Kosovo
Date of Independence 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Legal system civil law system; note - the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) retained limited executive powers within the Kosovo judiciary for complex cases from 2008 to 2018
International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Constitution
History Previous 1974, 1990; latest (postindependence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008; note - amendment 24, passed by the Assembly in August 2015, established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Institution, referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chamber or "Specialist Court," to try war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other crimes under Kosovo law committed during and immediately after the Kosovo War (1998-2000)
Amendments 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; amended several times, last in 2020
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 Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 22 March 2021)
Cabinet Cabinet elected by the Assembly
Elections/appointments president indirectly elected by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly for a 5-year term; if a candidate does not attain a two-thirds threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 to 4 April 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly
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
Legislative branch
Description Unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova (120 seats; 100 members directly elected by open-list proportional representation vote with 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities - 10 for Serbs and 10 for other ethnic minorities; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections Last held on 14 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results Percent of vote by party - LVV 50%, PDK 16.9%, LDK 12.7%, AAK 7.1%, Serb List 5.1%, other 8.2%; seats by party - LVV 58, PDK 19, LDK 15, Serb List 10, AAK 8, other 10; composition - men 79, women 41, percentage women 34.2%
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 Jeffrey M. HOVENIER (since 10 January 2022)
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
  • Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]
  • Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI [Bekim ARIFI]
  • Civic Initiative for Freedom, Justice, and Survival [Milan DABIC]
  • Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Lumir ABDIXHIKU]
  • Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Memli KRASNIQI]
  • New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Elbert KRASNIQI]
  • New Democratic Party or NDS [Emilja REDZEPI]
  • Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRK [Erxhan GALJUSI]
  • Romani Initiative [Gazmend SALIJEVCI]
  • Self-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetevendosje or Vetevendosie) or LVV or VV [Albin KURTI]
  • Serb List or SL [Goran RAKIC]
  • Social Democratic Union or SDU [Duda BALJE]
  • Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP [Fikrim DAMKA]
  • Unique Gorani Party or JGP [Adem HODZA]
  • Vakat Coalition or VAKAT [Bahrim SABANI]
    • International organization participation
  • FIFA
  • IBRD
  • IDA
  • IFC
  • IMF
  • IOC
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • MIGA
  • OIF (observer)
    • All Important Facts about Kosovo

    Want to know more about Kosovo? Check all different factbooks for Kosovo below.

    Kosovo is found in Southeast Europe