Edi Rama 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.