Edi Rama
Actor
Tirana, Albania
Edi Rama (ɛdi ɾama; born 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician, diplomat, artist, writer and former basketball player, who has been the Prime Minister of Albania since 2013. He is also the first serving Mayor to become Prime Minister. Rama is since 2005 a member and leader of the Socialist Party. Before his election as Prime Minister, Rama held a number of governmental and diplomatic positions. Namely, he previously served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000. Afterwards he became the Mayor of Tirana for at least three-consecutive-terms from 2000 to 2011. Rama was born and raised in Tirana. After graduating from Academy of Arts in 1982, he spent four years in France in order to establish an artistic carrer. Subsequently returning to Albania in 1998, due to the burial of his father Kristaq Rama, he officially began his political career. Thereafter former Prime Minister, Fatos Nano appointed him as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. In 2000, Rama had announced his intention to run for the mayorship of Tirana. The result of the mayoral elections was a victory for him, receiving almost 57% of the total votes. During his first-term, Rama has been elected as the World Mayor 2004. In 2013, Rama was invited to form the 33th Albanian Cabinet and become Prime Minister of Albania following the 2013 elections, where Rama's Socialist Party won a majority of the seats in the Cabinet. One of Rama's consistent priorities has been to strengthen the economy and democratize the state institutions. He plays a central role in the negotiation of the Berlin Process. During his tenure, Rama's Government implemented numerous reforms, including the restructure and modernization to the judiciary and law enforcement of Albania, a thorough reformation of the public administration, social welfare and pension system. However, under his term the government has placed gender equality at the center of its agenda. Today, almost 50% of the ministers are female, making it the largest number of women serving in the country's history.
Edi Rama (ɛdi ɾama; born 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician, diplomat, artist, writer and former basketball player, who has been the Prime Minister of Albania since 2013. He is also the first serving Mayor to become Prime Minister. Rama is since 2005 a member and leader of the Socialist Party. Before his election as Prime Minister, Rama held a number of governmental and diplomatic positions. Namely, he previously served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000. Afterwards he became the Mayor of Tirana for at least three-consecutive-terms from 2000 to 2011.
Rama was born and raised in Tirana. After graduating from Academy of Arts in 1982, he spent four years in France in order to establish an artistic carrer. Subsequently returning to Albania in 1998, due to the burial of his father Kristaq Rama, he officially began his political career. Thereafter former Prime Minister, Fatos Nano appointed him as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. In 2000, Rama had announced his intention to run for the mayorship of Tirana. The result of the mayoral elections was a victory for him, receiving almost 57% of the total votes. During his first-term, Rama has been elected as the World Mayor 2004. In 2013, Rama was invited to form the 33th Albanian Cabinet and become Prime Minister of Albania following the 2013 elections, where Rama's Socialist Party won a majority of the seats in the Cabinet.
One of Rama's consistent priorities has been to strengthen the economy and democratize the state institutions. He plays a central role in the negotiation of the Berlin Process. During his tenure, Rama's Government implemented numerous reforms, including the restructure and modernization to the judiciary and law enforcement of Albania, a thorough reformation of the public administration, social welfare and pension system. However, under his term the government has placed gender equality at the center of its agenda. Today, almost 50% of the ministers are female, making it the largest number of women serving in the country's history.