37 Facts About Edi Rama

1. Edi Rama took the leadership position of the Socialist Party in October 2005 after Fatos Nano resigned.

2. Edi Rama developed his interest as an artist and subsequently as a writer.

3. Edi Rama was a member of the Albanian National Basketball Team.

4. Edi Rama took interest in painting at his childhood days, and this talent was discovered by two famous Albanian painters, Edi Hila and Danish Juniku who urged him to make it his professional career.

5. Edi Rama was born on July 4, 1964, in Tirana to Kristaq Rama and Aneta Rama.

6. Edi Rama replaced his deputy Senida Mesi with Erjon Brace, a lawmaker.

7. In 2017, Edi Rama received the highest French Honour, the order of the "Commander to the Legion of Honour".

8. Edi Rama was chosen by Time magazine to be one of the 2005 European Heroes, a tribute given by the magazine to 37 people who are changing the world for the better.

9. In December 2004, Edi Rama was named the World Mayor 2004, in an international competition that took place over one year, based on direct voting by Internet, organized by the non-commercial organization CITYMAYORS, located in London.

10. In October 2002, Edi Rama was given an award by Kofi Annan in light of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

11. Edi Rama has repeatedly stated in the past he does not speak any Greek.

12. In 2003, Edi Rama appeared before the Albanian Parliament in an inquiry commission on abuse of funds in the Municipality of Tirana.

13. Edi Rama commented during his appearance in "Te Paekspozuarit", a weekly political show by Ylli Rakipi, that the host and his regular guests, Andi Bushati and Fatos Lubonja, "pluck and roast chicken", "drink raki", and their viewers "eat dog food".

14. In 2018 Edi Rama was named as the 8th best looking world leader out of 199.

15. Edi Rama is a supporter of Partizani Tirana, Juventus and the Albanian national football team.

16. In November 2011, Edi Rama published a reflection book on his years as mayor of Tirana entitled Kurban.

17. In 2009, Edi Rama published a collection of personal notes and paintings in a book entitled Edi Rama.

18. In 2014 and 2017 Edi Rama held an exhibit in the prestigious Venice Biennial.

19. Edi Rama is an active painter and has had several personal painting exhibitions.

20. Edi Rama has had an intensive agenda of high level meetings.

21. Edi Rama is a key supporter of the Berlin Process, an intergovernmental platform of cooperation between the European Union and Western Balkans countries.

22. In 2013, the Socialist Party of Edi Rama led the coalition of left parties which won a landslide victory in the parliamentary election against the conservative coalition of PM Sali Berisha.

23. Edi Rama never resigned as Chairman of the Socialist Party, despite failing to win the 2009 parliamentary election.

24. Edi Rama replaced many of Party's influential leaders with younger loyalists.

25. Edi Rama received 41 votes, Rexhep Meidani received 61, while Fatos Nano was reelected with 456 votes.

26. Edi Rama appealed the court's decision at the Electoral College and demanded the reinstatement of the initial tally.

27. In 2011, Edi Rama decided to run for a fourth term in office.

28. Edi Rama was reelected as Mayor of Tirana by defeating Democratic Party of Albania candidates Spartak Ngjela, a former attorney, in 2003 and Sokol Olldashi in 2007.

29. Edi Rama expanded the existing roads and paved new ones, improving mobility.

30. Edi Rama planted thousands of new trees, making Tirana a much more environment-friendly city.

31. Edi Rama was awarded the inaugural World Mayor Prize in 2004.

32. In 1994, Edi Rama emigrated to France, and tried to begin a career as a painter.

33. Edi Rama tried to influence student protests and become part of the newly created Democratic Party of Albania, but soon left after a quarrel over ideological matters with Sali Berisha.

34. Edi Rama was part of the Albania national basketball team.

35. Edi Rama was first elected Mayor of Tirana in 2000, and was reelected in 2003 and 2007.

36. Edi Rama was confirmed as prime minister for a second term on 2017 election.

37. Edi Rama was appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in 1998, a position that he held until 2000.