New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared a light-hearted anecdote from her 2023 visit to India, recounting how the streets of New Delhi were lined with massive welcome hoardings featuring her face. In her newly released book Giorgia’s Vision, which is structured around a series of candid conversations with journalist Alessandro Sallusti, Meloni recalls that the extensive display prompted Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani to joke that she could easily secure a million votes if she ever contested an election from a New Delhi constituency.
Meloni visited India twice in 2023—initially as the chief guest for the 8th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in March, and subsequently for the high-profile G20 Summit in September. During these visits, the Italian leader forged a remarkably warm and visible rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a connection that quickly captured public attention and became affectionately dubbed the “Melodi” bond by global social media users. Writing in a chapter titled “Head Held High Among the World Greats,” the 49-year-old leader notes that successful international diplomacy often requires moving beyond rigid state protocols to find a personal key to connection, stating that a few witty words, a personal story, or a common interest can make all the difference in bilateral ties.
The memoir details various informal encounters that helped establish solid diplomatic relationships, including a shared cigarette break with Tunisian President Kais Saied that broke a long negotiation stalemate, and an exchange of text messages on current affairs with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Meloni further recounts personal gestures from other global heads of state, such as receiving a bouquet of orange roses for her birthday from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a giant Hello Kitty doll for her daughter from former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and being taken to a Lord of the Rings-themed cafe in Warsaw by then-Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki due to her passion for J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. The book, which features a foreword by US Vice President JD Vance and explores broader themes of leadership, identity, and faith, has been published in India by Rupa Publications and is currently available across online and offline retail stores for Rs 695.
