KosovoParliament elected Albin Kurti as prime minister on Wednesday, securing his third term and ending a year-long political deadlock in the country.

After 12 months in the post of temporary duty, Kurti was confirmed for Balkan the nation’s new prime minister after his Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party scored the most in December’s snap election.

He was elected to the leadership with 66 votes in favor in the 120-seat parliament — drawing applause from his supporters.

Read moreKosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti decided to run for a second term after a decisive election victory

In his speech to parliament ahead of the vote, Kurti outlined his legislative agenda, highlighting the economy and increased defense investment at its core.

“During these years, as we all witnessed, we faced constant attacks and threats from Serbia,” he said of his country’s northern neighbor, which has never recognized Kosovo’s independence.

But he promised to “strive towards the normalization of relations” with Belgrade.

“Normalization is a matter of regulating relations between the two countries, that is, as a bilateral external relationship, and not interference or meddling in internal affairs,” Kurti said in parliament.

Tensions in the north of the country, where the majority ethnic Serbian minority live, have remained high since the 1990s war between Serbia and Kosovo.

The normalization of relations is a key condition for the stated ambitions of both countries for EU membership.

Read moreKosovo’s ruling party leads in the parliamentary elections, but fails to secure a majority

A general election a year ago left Kurti without the majority needed to form a government — leading to a months-long deadlock in parliament.

Deeply divided lawmakers eventually forced snap elections in December, which Kurti’s party won with more than 51 percent of the vote, securing 57 seats.

But it took weeks for the results to be confirmed, after alleged inaccuracies in the tally triggered a full recount and criminal investigation.

More than 100 election staff members have been arrested as the investigation continues.

Kurti has already signaled his intention to move quickly as he seeks to approve key international loans for Kosovo, including those from Brussels, which require a two-thirds majority to pass.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)