Edi Rama is an Albanian politician and painter who has served as the 33rd Prime Minister of Albania since 2013. Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005.
Previously, he served as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000. Rama was first elected mayor of Tirana in 2000 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
He is also one of the main initiators of the Open Balkans Initiative, an economic zone aimed at ensuring the “Four Freedoms” for the countries of the Western Balkans.
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- Full name: Edwin Kristak Rama
- Stage name: Eddie Lamar
- Date of birth: July 4, 1964
- Age: 60 years old
- Place of birth: Tirana, Albania
- Nationality: Albanian
- Occupation: Prime Minister of Albania
- Height: unknown
- Parents: Kristaq Rama and Aneta Rama (née Koleka)
- Siblings: Orsi Rama
- Spouse: Linda Rama (m. 2010), Matilda Makoçi (m. 1986-1991)
- Children: Gregon and Zahor Rama
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $2 million
early life and education
Edvin Kristaq Rama (Edvin Kristaq Rama) was born on July 4, 1964 in Tirana, Albania. He is the son of the famous sculptor Kristaq Rama (1932-1998) and Son of medical specialist Aneta Rama (née Koleka) (1938-2020). His father was an important figure in the communist-era art world, while his mother came from a politically prominent family.
Rama has a sibling, a younger brother named Olsi Rama, who is involved in sports as the general manager of Albania’s leading football club Partizan Tirana.
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He received his early education at the Jordan Mija Art Academy, an art-focused institution in Tirana, before attending the Tirana Art Academy. After graduation, he became a lecturer at the academy, further developing his artistic and intellectual pursuits. He is of Albanian descent and considers himself Catholic.
Profession
Edi Rama’s career began in art, and his talent for painting was recognized early on by the famous Albanian painters Edi Shira and Danish Ukeniu. He graduated from the Mija Academy of Arts in Jordan and later studied at the Tirana Academy of Arts, where he worked as a lecturer.
During this period he organized conferences criticizing the communist regime and published Refleksione in 1992, co-authored with Ardian Klosi. A former professional basketball player for Dinamo Tirana and a member of the Albanian national basketball team, Rama’s early and multifaceted career was deeply rooted in art and activism.
In the early 1990s, Rama attempted to influence Albania’s democratic transition, but distanced himself from the Democratic Party due to disagreements with Sali Berisha. Moving to France in 1994, Rama pursued painting and exhibited with Anri Sala.
In 1997, he returned to Albania and was physically attacked, demonstrating his continued political involvement. Rama was recognized for transforming Tirana’s aesthetic by repainting Soviet-style buildings in 1998 when then-Prime Minister Fatos Nano appointed him Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
While serving as mayor of Tirana from 2000 to 2011, Rama implemented urban renewal projects that turned the city into a tourist destination. He won the first World Mayors Award in 2004 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
During his tenure as mayor, he formed an alliance with the Socialist Party, eventually running for party leadership in 2003. Although initially unsuccessful, he became chairman of the party in 2005, inspired by Tony Blair’s “New Labour” policies.
Rama’s Socialist Party has faced challenges, including a boycott of parliamentary debates and public protests after a disputed 2009 election. In 2011, political unrest escalated during anti-government protests, leading to violence and death.
Despite these setbacks, Rama led the Socialist Party to a decisive victory in the 2013 elections and became Prime Minister of Albania. His governance focuses on European integration, economic revitalization, public order and institutional reform.
Under Rama’s leadership, the Socialist Party also won the 2017 elections, gaining a majority in parliament. However, his tenure was not without controversy. He clashed with Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj over the mini-Schengen initiative, leading to a defamation lawsuit. His neoliberal economic policies, which emphasize privatization and public-private partnerships, have been criticized by the International Monetary Fund for potential fiscal risks.
In 2024, Rama announced plans to establish a sovereign state for the Bektash Order, a microstate within Tirana that would serve as the order’s headquarters. Rama is an active writer and has published works reflecting on his personal and professional experiences, including Kurban In 2011, his tenure as mayor was detailed. His combination of artistic vision and political strategy shaped his unique approach to governance.
Rama’s international recognition stems not only from his political career but also from his artistic contributions and bold urban renewal projects. His leadership style reflected a balance of progressive ideas and pragmatic reforms and had a lasting impact on Albania’s political and cultural landscape.
social media
- Instagram account: @ediramaal
- Facebook account: Eddie Lamar
- Twitter account: Eddie Lamar
personal life
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Matilda Makoçi, with whom he had a son, Gregor, born in 1991. Later that year, the two divorced.
Rama has been married to economist and civil society activist Linda Rama (née Barsha) since 2010. They have a son, Zaho, born in 2014. Linda holds an advanced degree in economics and has made contributions to public administration and academia, complementing her role as a supportive partner in Rama’s political career.
net worth
As of 2024, the net worth of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is estimated to be approximately $2 million.
His income comes primarily from government salary, artistic pursuits, and rental properties. Additionally, his wife Linda Rama is an accomplished economist and civil society activist who has contributed significantly to their family’s overall wealth.