Edi Rama Quotations

I entered politics from a completely different background from other people in this field, and that has helped me to see and deal with things differently.

When people say all politicians are the same, ask yourself if Obama was the same as Bush, if Francois Hollande is the same as Sarkozy. They are not. They are human beings with different views and different visions for the world.

Politics has come to resemble a cynical team game played by politicians, while the public has been pushed aside as if sitting on the seats of a stadium in which passion for politics is gradually making room for blindness and desperation.

In my previous life, I was an artist. I still paint. I love art.

I'm not sure I am a politician. I would say that I am still an artist, and I'm trying to use politics as an instrument for change.

I strongly believe in political activity that has to do with choices - and not consensus that sometimes covers problems and doesn't resolve them.

For 11 years, I was mayor of Tirana, our capital. We faced many challenges. Art was part of the answer, and my name, in the very beginning, was linked with two things: demolition of illegal constructions in order to get public space back, and use of colors in order to revive the hope that had been lost in my city.

Beauty is much more intimidating than brutality.

Our world is defined by the pace of change. We can all change the world.

Peace is brittle and a big burden on our shoulders so we need ... concrete help from the European Union and the European Commission, we can get more support together than on our own, to maximize the gains for our peoples.