Edi Rama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edi Rama
Rama in 2024
33rd Prime Minister of Albania
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 September 2013
President	Bujar Nishani Ilir Meta Bajram Begaj
Deputy	See list Niko Peleshi Ledina Mandia Senida Mesi Erion Braçe Arben Ahmetaj Belinda Balluku
Preceded by	Sali Berisha
Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 October 2005
Preceded by	Fatos Nano
Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
In office 1 January 2020 – 1 January 2021
Preceded by	Miroslav Lajčák
Succeeded by	Ann Linde
40th Mayor of Tirana
In office 11 October 2000 – 25 July 2011
Preceded by	Albert Brojka
Succeeded by	Lulzim Basha
40th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 21 January 2019 – 31 December 2020 Serving with Gent Cakaj
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Ditmir Bushati
Succeeded by	Olta Xhaçka
22nd Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
In office 2 October 1998 – 26 October 2000
Prime Minister	Pandeli Majko Ilir Meta
Preceded by	Arta Dade
Succeeded by	Esmeralda Uruçi
Personal details
Born	Edvin Kristaq Rama (1964-07-04) 4 July 1964 (age 61) Tirana, PR Albania
Political party	Socialist
Spouses	Matilda Makoçi [sq] ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1991)​ Linda Basha ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	Gregor Zaho
Parents	Kristaq Rama (father) Aneta Koleka (mother)
Alma mater	Academy of Arts
Signature
Edi Rama Personal information High school Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Career information College Tirana University of Arts League Albanian Basketball League Career history 0000 Dinamo Tirana 0000 Albania national team

Edi Rama (born Edvin Kristaq Rama on 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician and painter. He has been the Prime Minister of Albania since 2013. He is also the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005.

Before becoming prime minister, he was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000. He then served as the Mayor of Tirana from 2000 to 2011. Edi Rama has won three elections in a row as prime minister. This makes him the only Albanian prime minister to do so.

Edi Rama: Albania's Leader

Early Life and Path to Politics

Edi Rama was born in Tirana, Albania, on 4 July 1964. His father, Kristaq Rama, was a famous sculptor. His mother, Aneta Rama, was a doctor.

From a young age, Edi Rama showed a talent for painting. He studied art at the Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum in Tirana. He also played basketball professionally for BC Dinamo Tirana and the Albania national basketball team. After finishing art school, he became an instructor there.

In 1994, Rama moved to France to focus on his art career. He had several art exhibitions there. In 2002, he officially changed his first name to Edi.

Becoming Mayor of Tirana

In 1998, Edi Rama became the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He was known for his unique and colorful style. His new ideas for cultural projects made him very popular.

In October 2000, Rama was elected Mayor of Tirana, the capital city. He started a big project to clean up the city. He removed many illegal buildings and fixed up areas near the Lanë River.

Rama became famous around the world for painting the old, grey buildings in Tirana with bright colors. This made the city look unique and attracted tourists. In 2004, he won the first-ever World Mayor Prize. The award committee said he "changed a whole city" and made Tirana "colored, happy, with a new and improved infrastructure and cultural life."

As mayor, he also created the Tirana City Master Plan. He planted thousands of trees, making Tirana greener. He also improved roads to make travel easier.

Leading the Opposition

After serving as mayor, Edi Rama became the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania in 2005. He worked to make the party more appealing to people. He brought in younger leaders and aimed for a "third direction" in politics.

As the leader of the opposition, Rama supported changes to Albania's election laws in 2008. These changes aimed to make elections fairer.

Prime Minister of Albania

In 2013, Edi Rama's Socialist Party won the parliamentary election. He became the Prime Minister of Albania on 11 September 2013. His plan, called "Renaissance," focused on joining Europe, improving the economy, and making government better.

He won a second term in 2017 and a third term in 2021. He is the only Albanian prime minister to win three elections in a row.

Key Changes as Prime Minister

As prime minister, Rama worked to improve public order. His government invested in the Albanian Police, making them more effective.

He also worked to fix the justice system in Albania. A new law in 2016 helped remove corrupt judges and prosecutors. The European Union saw this as an important step for Albania to join the EU.

Rama also reformed the energy sector. His government collected unpaid bills and improved the power network. Albania's economy grew, and unemployment went down during his time in office.

Helping After the Earthquake

On 26 November 2019, a strong earthquake hit Albania. Prime Minister Rama visited the damaged areas right away. He worked with other political leaders to help people.

He changed the government budget to provide money for rebuilding homes. Rama asked other countries for help, saying Albania needed support for reconstruction. He also met with leaders like President Erdogan of Turkey to get aid.

Albania's Place in the World

Edi Rama believes that countries in the Western Balkans should join the European Union faster. He thinks this will help prevent problems in the region.

He sees Turkey as an important partner and has a good relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Rama has also met with many other world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Rama during the 2014 NATO Summit in Newport, UK

In 2019, Rama, along with the presidents of Serbia and North Macedonia, signed the Mini Schengen deal. This agreement aims to create free movement of goods, money, services, and workers between their countries. This is a step towards a single market, similar to the European Single Market. In 2024, Rama stated that Albania hopes to join the EU by 2030.

Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Rama at the opening of the Open Balkan, 29 July 2021

Rama alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 15 February 2022

Rama and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 23 March 2023

Artist and Writer

Edi Rama is also a talented painter. He has shown his artwork in many exhibitions around the world. These include galleries in New York City, Berlin, and the Venice Biennial.

He is also a writer. He has published several books, including Refleksione (Reflections) and Kurban, which shares his thoughts on his time as Mayor of Tirana.

Personal Life

Rama in 2018

Edi Rama was baptized as a Catholic. However, he now describes himself as an agnostic. This means he believes that whether God exists or not cannot be known by humans.

He has a son named Gregor from his first marriage to Matilda Makoçi. Since 2010, he has been married to Linda Rama, an economist. They have a son named Zaho, born in 2014.

Rama supports the football teams FK Partizani Tirana and Juventus. His younger brother, Olsi Rama, is the sporting director for Partizani Tirana.

Awards and Recognition

Edi Rama has received several important awards for his work.

• Legion of Honour from France (2017)
• Presidential Medal of Merits from Kosovo (2018)
• Order of Saint-Charles from Monaco (2019)
• Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (First class) from Ukraine (2023)

He also received the CAM Global Leadership Award for his efforts in fighting against antisemitism and other types of religious prejudice.

Images for kids

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  Rama surveying earthquake damage with the Israel Defense Forces Aid Mission in 2019

• 

  Rama at a political campaign rally in Vlore, 18 May 2013

See also

In Spanish: Edi Rama para niños

• List of Albanian painters
• Prime Minister of Albania