Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared a light-hearted memory from her 2023 visit to India in her new book, Giorgia’s Vision. She recalled how roads in New Delhi were filled with welcome posters carrying her photograph, leading to a humorous comment from Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister.
According to Meloni, posters with her picture and the word “Welcome” were placed every few feet along the road from the airport when she arrived in New Delhi. When she left India, the same posters had been changed to read “Thank you for visiting.”
What exactly happened?
The display impressed those travelling with her. Meloni wrote that Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani jokingly told her that if she contested an election from a New Delhi constituency, she would receive “a million votes.”
The anecdote is one of several personal stories featured in her newly released book, which looks back at her experiences as Italy’s leader and her meetings with world leaders.
Meloni visited India twice in 2023. Her first trip was in March to attend the Raisina Dialogue, while her second visit came in September for the G20 New Delhi Summit. During both visits, she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the book, Meloni says that successful diplomacy is not only about official meetings and negotiations but also about building personal relationships with fellow leaders. She describes her interactions with Prime Minister Modi as warm and cordial.
What is the ‘million votes’ joke about?
The joke was made after Antonio Tajani saw the large number of welcome posters featuring Meloni across New Delhi. Seeing her image displayed throughout the city, he humorously remarked that she could win “a million votes” if she stood for elections from a Delhi constituency. The comment was meant as a light-hearted observation and not a political statement.
What else did Meloni reveal in her book?
Meloni’s book also includes several behind-the-scenes stories from international diplomacy. She recalls sharing a cigarette break with Tunisian President Kais Saied, discussing The Lord of the Rings with former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and receiving a giant Hello Kitty doll for her daughter from former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
First published on: Jun 26, 2026 11:13 AM IST
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