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German newspaper: Albania in corruption and poverty, Rama, painting and power! Should Tirana be called "TiRama"?
2025-07-05 22:24:08 / POLITIKË
The prestigious German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has dedicated a long profile to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, describing him as an unusual figure who combines art with politics and power. In an article by Julia Roothhaas, Rama is presented as a leader who paints during meetings and leads a country, appearing tired after a visit to the US for the wedding of billionaire Alexander Soros to Hillary Clinton adviser Huma Abedin.
The journalist visits Rama's office, where the walls are covered with drawings, basketball jerseys, fitness equipment and protocol objects - a mix of personal art and state power. In the same office are also the parrots Lulu and Pippo, who create a theatrical atmosphere for every visitor.
Rama, in power since 2013, won a fourth term in May's elections with 52% of the vote, despite criticism from the OSCE for misuse of public resources and pressure on the administration. He is seen as a dominant figure in the region and on the European stage, appearing alongside world leaders at international summits.
The article does not hesitate to highlight the contrast between Rama's image as an artist and the reality of an Albania faced with corruption, mass emigration, and a controlled media. Dutch journalist Vincent van Gerven Oei warns of "image washing" through art, arguing that the artist Rama often covers up the country's deep political problems with color.
In the end, the Süddeutsche Zeitung portrait depicts Rama as a leader who is persistently building a personality cult built on aesthetics, international influence, and consolidated power at home – closing with the provocative question: "Shouldn't the city be renamed TiRama?"
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