Rama: The Hardest Part of My Job Is Not Going Crazy; the Biggest Threat to Albania Is Albanians!

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave an interview to well-known TikToker Max Klymenko during the NATO summit held several weeks ago.

During the interview, Klymenko asked the head of government what the hardest part of his job was. Rama replied briefly: “Not going crazy.” He said his favorite part was doing things that are good for people.

He then asked him what the biggest threat to Albania was. Rama said the biggest threat to Albania was Albanians themselves, in the sense that they must be aware that there is a great deal of work to be done and that they must continue moving toward the European Union.

The prime minister also discussed his relationships with other European leaders and beyond. He singled out his relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, adding that Albania and Italy have a special relationship.

Interview:

Max Klymenko: The Prime Minister of Albania should be in this room. The Prime Minister of Albania should be in this room. There’s no one here. Albania has one of the most beautiful flags there is. Oh, hello.

Edi Rama: Hello.

Max Klymenko: How are you doing?

Edi Rama: Good.

Max Klymenko: I just want to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right.

Edi Rama: Of course.

Max Klymenko: What would you say is the hardest part of your job?

Edi Rama: Not going crazy.

Max Klymenko: And what is your favorite part of the job?

Edi Rama: The things that are good for people.

Max Klymenko: How is Albania helping Ukraine?

Edi Rama: Listen, we have tried to do our best. We are not a large country. Nor are we a rich country. But we have stood by Ukraine with everything we could.

Max Klymenko: In your opinion, what is the biggest threat to Albania?

Edi Rama: The biggest threat to Albania is Albanians, in the sense that we must be aware that we have a great deal of work to do and that we must continue moving toward the European Union. And once we are inside the European Union, we will also be safe from ourselves.

Max Klymenko: Yours is the profession with the second-lowest amount of sleep in the world. Only doctors sleep less than politicians. How much sleep do you usually get?

Edi Rama: Five hours on average, perhaps even less.

Max Klymenko: Which world leader would you say you have the best relationship with? And which would you say you have the most challenging relationship with?

Edi Rama: I have good relationships with everyone. Perhaps my best relationship is with Giorgia. We also have a special relationship between Albania and Italy. I had a very challenging relationship with Mark Rutte when he was prime minister of the Netherlands. But then we became very good friends, and we have a special friendship. And he is, without question, the man who knows best how to handle Donald Trump.

Max Klymenko: How many professions have you had in your life? Could you list some of the things you have done?

Edi Rama: I was a full-time artist, and then I became… Did I become a politician? I hope not. But otherwise, I have done many things. I played basketball and made it as far as the national team, not because I was very good, but because I was tall.

Max Klymenko: Are you happy for the Knicks?

Edi Rama: I no longer follow basketball with the black jerseys off the court. It is no longer the same sport.

Max Klymenko: And finally, I see that we have to go. The final question I ask is: What advice would you give a young person today?

Edi Rama: Listen, when I was a child, I was always very, very uncomfortable when I had to receive advice. And when I became a young man, I promised myself that as soon as I became an adult, I would never give advice to young people. It is not a good idea.