List of Presidents of Kosovo: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Kosovo from 2002 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Kosovo, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Kosovo: Justina Shiroka Pula (in office since 2026). Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised by about 100 UN members; Serbia and several other states do not recognise it. The president is elected by the Assembly, and the presidency was vacant or acting from April to October 2026.

Presidents of Kosovo in order, with years in office

Ibrahim Rugova

Served: 2002–2006

Leader of the non-violent independence movement; he died in January 2006.

Nexhat Daci

Served: 2006 (acting)

Speaker of the Assembly who acted as president after Rugova's death.

Fatmir Sejdiu

Served: 2006–2010

President when independence was declared in 2008; he resigned in 2010 after a Constitutional Court ruling.

Jakup Krasniqi

Served: 2010–2011 (acting)

Speaker of the Assembly who acted as president after Sejdiu's resignation.

Behgjet Pacolli

Served: 2011

Businessman elected in February 2011; the Constitutional Court annulled the vote in March.

Atifete Jahjaga

Served: 2011–2016

First woman president and a former police officer.

Hashim Thaçi

Served: 2016–2020

Former prime minister who resigned in November 2020 to face war crimes charges in The Hague.

Vjosa Osmani

Served: 2020–2026

Acted as president from November 2020 as Speaker, was elected in April 2021, and left office when her term ended on 4 April 2026.

Albulena Haxhiu

Served: 2026 (acting)

Speaker of the Assembly who acted as president from 4 April to 7 October 2026.

Justina Shiroka Pula

Served: 2026–present

Elected by the Assembly on 6–7 October 2026 and in office since 7 October; a challenge over the timing of the vote has been taken to the Constitutional Court.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Kosovo

Who is the current president of Kosovo?

The current president of Kosovo is Justina Shiroka Pula, in office since 2026. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised by about 100 UN members; Serbia and several other states do not recognise it. The president is elected by the Assembly, and the presidency was vacant or acting from April to October 2026.

Who were the previous presidents of Kosovo?

The presidents and heads of state of Kosovo listed on this page, in order, are: Ibrahim Rugova, Nexhat Daci, Fatmir Sejdiu, Jakup Krasniqi, Behgjet Pacolli, Atifete Jahjaga, Hashim Thaçi, Vjosa Osmani, Albulena Haxhiu, Justina Shiroka Pula.

Who was the first president of Kosovo?

Ibrahim Rugova was the first president of Kosovo, in office 2002–2006.

Sources: Wikipedia, 2026 Kosovan presidential election and President of Kosovo; Reuters, AP, Anadolu, Prishtina Insight and Kosovo Online reports on April–October 2026 (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since the office was created in 2002; acting presidents are labelled.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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