Edi Rama is the prime minister of Albania. He is a character who gets a lot of attention, and that is not only because of the role that he has, but also because of his past and his unique personality. If you are wondering what he was before, I hate to break this to you, but this is not the easiest question to answer, as he was a lot of things.
Edi Rama as an artist
Yes, the Albanian prime minister is an artist. It might sound odd, but yeah, artists can become prime ministers too, and vice versa. However, brace yourselves because his contribution to art is gonna amaze you.
A painter
Rama studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, where his early works explored abstract forms and color symbolism. Nowadays, Rama still paints. However, he does not strictly follow the painting on the canvas ideology but paints a lot on documents, meeting notes, or policy drafts, as if bureaucracy itself were a canvas. His art has been exhibited internationally, in Europe and the United States. Before entering politics, Rama taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but we will come back to the topic of painting.
A sculptor
He comes from an artistic family, as his father, Kristaq Rama, was a well-known sculptor. And of course, he does some sculptures too.
Lately, Rama met Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, and gifted him one of his sculptures.
A writer
Edi Rama wrote a few books. His first major book, Kurban (2011), came out just before he became prime minister. The title means “sacrifice,” and it blends memoir and political essay. He used it to frame his life story, his father’s death, his time as mayor of Tirana, his transformation of the city’s colors, and his view of Albania’s corruption as a moral sacrifice for the nation. It wasn’t written to entertain; it was written to mythologize himself.
A rapper
Yes, you read that well. He collaborated on an artistic project with West Side Family, a famous group in Albania. The song was made when Rama was the Mayor of Tirana. The whole song is a parody about the controversy over Tirana.
His part starts at 1:46, and he basically starts by saying “sa zhurmë,” meaning so noisy to describe noisy Tirana. Then the text he says goes like:
So yeah, he is also a rapper.
An actor
Honestly, I am not making these up. In 2020, he participated in a movie called “I love Tropoja,” where he played only for a few minutes, playing the role of the uncle of the main character.
A pornstar
Okay, this one I made up. However, I am not entirely wrong because he had some naked pictures leaked, but it was not him leaking them on purpose. It was the opposition party that leaked them just before some elections. Well … he won.
Edi Rama as a basketball player
Since he was a teen, he has been passionate about playing basketball. Growing older, he then joined Dinamo Tirana as a professional player. Then he also became part of the Albanian national team of basketball team. Are you thinking, “How tall is Edi Rama?”. Well, Edi Rama is 200.66 cm or 6ft 7in. Fun fact, Edi Rama has a Guinness World record for being the world’s tallest leader.
Edi Rama as a politician
Edi Rama was living in France, where he wanted to establish an artistic career. Unfortunately, in 1998, he had to return to Albania due to the funeral of his father. At that time, the Prime Minister Fatos Nano appointed him as Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports.
A mayor
In 2000, Rama intended to run for mayor of Tirana. He won the elections with almost 57% of the votes. During his time as the mayor, Tirana was not the city we have now. It was poor and there were not a lot of investments. Keep in mind that Albania just got out of communism and an almost civil war. The worst part was that people were not happy, and the city’s aesthetics encouraged depression, not happiness. But wait a minute, wasn’t Rama an artist? Yes, and art is the answer. So he decided to paint the buildings of Tirana with colorful colors and it made a difference to people
As a result, he won the World’s Best Mayor prize in 2004. Here are some of the comments of the people who voted for him for the prize.
Edi Rama has turned this dull, post communist town into something not only highly livable, but also something interesting. A place that people talk about. A town known for its multi-coloured apartment buildings. Edi Rama has also inspired mayors of other towns in Albania, turning the whole country bright and clean.
In a capital that was full of grey buildings and depression that could be seen in the faces of thousands of people, the miracle, the color and, most important, the hope is now present everywhere
Another important project the he took was the rehabilitation of the river Lana. Compared to how it was, the river looks much better with grass, tree,s and flowers compared to the kiosks that were occupying the riverside. Also, the water quality has improved however, it has a long way to go.
Edi Rama was the mayor of Tirana from 2000-2011 for 11 years. Tirana keeps improving, offering its citizens and tourists a lot of activities to do.
A prime minister
In 2013, Edi Rama was elected prime minister for the first time. He has been serving as the prime minister ever since. Under his leadership, Albania has pursued EU integration, digitalization, and infrastructure projects. Under Rama’s government, Albania is finally an EU member candidate and is making fast progress, which is promising for Albania’s joining the EU by 2030.
Edi Rama’s communication strategy as a prime minister is performative and some say almost theatrical. Every speech, interview, or Instagram post feels like he is an influencer more than a prime minister.
Conclusion:
Edi Rama for sure governs like an artist directing a long, complex project and Albania, for better or worse, remains his biggest canvas.
Frequently Asked Questions about Edi Rama
Who is Edi Rama?
Edi Rama is the current Prime Minister of Albania, known for his background as an artist, writer, and former basketball player. He has been leading Albania since 2013 and is recognized for his creative and often unconventional political style.
What did Edi Rama do before becoming Prime Minister?
Before entering politics, Rama was a painter and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana. He also served as Albania’s Minister of Culture and later as the Mayor of Tirana from 2000 to 2011.
Is Edi Rama an artist?
Yes. Edi Rama is a painter, and his works have been exhibited in galleries across Europe and the United States. His art often blends abstract shapes and vivid colors, and he continues to paint even while serving as Prime Minister.
What kind of art does Edi Rama make?
Rama’s art mixes abstract expressionism with playful, colorful forms. He’s famous for doodling and sketching over political documents and memos, which he later exhibits as artworks.
What books has Edi Rama written?
Edi Rama’s most notable book is Kurban (2011), a mix of memoir and political reflection. He has also published essays and speeches exploring politics, urban transformation, and Albanian identity.
How tall is Edi Rama?
Edi Rama stands at 200.66 cm (6 ft 7 in), making him one of the tallest world leaders.
Did Edi Rama play basketball professionally?
Yes. Rama played for Dinamo Tirana and for Albania’s national basketball team before focusing on art and politics.
Why is Edi Rama known as the “artist prime minister”?
Because of his deep roots in visual art and his tendency to blend creativity with governance for example, by painting Tirana’s grey communist-era buildings in bright colors when he was mayor.
What did Edi Rama do as Mayor of Tirana?
As mayor, Rama transformed Tirana by cleaning up illegal constructions, redesigning public spaces, and painting entire neighborhoods in bold colors to boost morale and civic pride.
What political party does Edi Rama belong to?
Edi Rama is the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania (Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë), which has been in power since his election in 2013.
When did Edi Rama become Prime Minister of Albania?
He became Prime Minister in September 2013 after his party won a majority in the parliamentary elections. He has been re-elected multiple times since.
What are Edi Rama’s main political priorities?
Rama’s agenda focuses on modernizing Albania, fighting corruption, promoting EU integration, and investing in digital governance and infrastructure.
Is Albania part of the European Union?
Not yet. Under Edi Rama’s leadership, Albania has become an official EU candidate country and is working toward full membership, possibly by 2030.
Has Edi Rama faced any controversies?
Yes. Rama has faced criticism for his strong communication style, media control, and some corruption allegations. However, his supporters view him as a reformist modernizer.
Why were Edi Rama’s nude photos leaked?
In the early 2000s, some private photos of Rama were leaked by political opponents to discredit him during elections. The scandal didn’t stop his rise; he won the elections anyway.
Has Edi Rama ever acted in a movie?
Yes. He briefly appeared in the 2020 Albanian comedy film I Love Tropoja, playing the uncle of the main character.
Did Edi Rama really rap in a song?
He did. Rama collaborated with the Albanian group West Side Family on a parody track called Tirona while he was the Mayor of Tirana.
What languages does Edi Rama speak?
He speaks Albanian, English, and French fluently.
Where can I see Edi Rama’s art?
His work is represented by the Marian Goodman Gallery, which features his exhibitions and paintings online at mariangoodman.com.
What is Edi Rama’s net worth?
Official data on his net worth isn’t public, though Albanian media often speculate about his wealth due to his long political career and art sales.
What makes Edi Rama different from other European leaders?
He stands out for combining politics with art, using design and symbolism as tools of governance, and communicating with the public through social media like an influencer rather than a traditional politician.
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