‘If you ran from New Delhi, you’d get a million votes’: Italian PM Meloni recalls India welcome in memoir

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared a memorable anecdote from her 2023 visit to India, recalling how New Delhi’s streets were decorated with posters featuring her image during her arrival and departure, a gesture that left her deputy joking that she could win a million votes if she contested elections from the Indian capital.

In her new book “Giorgia’s Vision”, written through conversations with journalist Alessandro Sallusti, Meloni describes the experience as an example of how personal connections can shape international diplomacy.

“When I arrived, there was a poster with my face and the word ‘Welcome’ every few feet along the road. When I left, the posters showed the same image, but now read ‘Thank you for visiting’,” she writes.

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Recalling the moment, Meloni said Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who accompanied her during the trip, joked: “With all these posters, if you ran for the New Delhi constituency, you’d get a million votes.”

Meloni visited India twice in 2023 — first in March for the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue and later in September for the G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi.

‘Melodi’ friendship and the power of personal diplomacy

In the chapter titled “Head Held High Among the World Greats”, Meloni reflects on the importance of building diplomatic relationships beyond formal meetings and official discussions.

The Italian leader, who shares a warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has been popularly referred to as part of the “Melodi” duo on social media, writes that successful diplomacy often depends on finding a personal connection with counterparts.

“A few witty words, a personal story, a common interest — it can make all the difference,” she observes.

Meloni uses several examples in the book to explain how informal interactions have helped her build relationships with global leaders.

She recalls developing a close rapport with Tunisian President Kais Saied after an unexpected conversation during a cigarette break. Following a lengthy official meeting, Saied invited her to enjoy the sea view from his residence. When Meloni asked if she could smoke — after restarting the habit following 13 years — she said the moment helped create a more personal bond between the two leaders.

Leadership lessons through global encounters

The Italian prime minister also writes about her interactions with several other world leaders, describing moments that strengthened diplomatic ties.

She recalls her friendship with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom she describes as spontaneous and deeply familiar with Italian politics. She also mentions Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who surprised her with orange roses on her birthday and shares her interest in Italian wines.

Meloni writes about former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gifting a large Hello Kitty doll for her daughter during the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

She also highlights an interaction with former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who took her to a café inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”, knowing her interest in the fantasy series.

Another gesture she remembers came from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who had her memoir “I am Giorgia” translated into Uzbek and presented her with a special copy before their meeting in Rome.

Published by Rupa Publications, “Giorgia’s Vision” explores Meloni’s views on leadership, national identity, meritocracy, family, faith and the future of Western civilisation. The foreword of the book has been written by US Vice President JD Vance.

With inputs from agencies