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

I still paint. I love the joy that color can give to our lives and to our communities. I try to bring something of the artist in me to my politics.

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.

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.

Things can change only through strong personalities. I am not very good at supporting ignorance and mediocrity, so maybe this leads to arrogant gestures and arrogant responses. So, nobody's perfect.

If it is the mark of the artist to love art before everything, to renounce everything for its sake, to think all the sweet human things of life well lost if only he may attain something, do some good, great work, then I was never an artist.