Albanian PM kneels for Meloni
As Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, strode down the red carpet laid out for leaders arriving in Tirana for the European Political Community Summit on Friday, Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister, cast aside his umbrella and knelt down on one knee in the rain, his hands held in prayer position.
'Edi, no' Meloni said, smiling, as she approached him.
'He only does this to be as tall as me,' she then joked in English to the gathered journalists as he stood and they embraced.
Mr Rama, who is 6 foot 7 inches, towers over Ms Meloni, who at 5 foot 3 inches is one of the most petite European leaders.
But they are not only different in physical stature.
He is leader of the socialist party of Albania, while she is on the conservative Right end of Europe's political spectrum, yet there is apparent synergy.
Mr Rama made a similar public gesture in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, kneeling down in front of journalists and UAE delegates to hand her a gift box containing a scarf for her 48th birthday, and did the same in 2024 when meeting Ms Meloni for a summit in Azerbaijan.
'He is a gentleman and she has charm,' Germano Dottori, a member of the scientific advisor board of the Italian geopolitical magazine Limes said, when asked for comment on the photo.
Ms Meloni, who is separated from her long-time companion, famously charmed tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has said he is a fan of her policies, and was also pictured laughing and joking frequently with Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister. His spokesperson said they 'obviously get on', having been elected at a similar time.
But Mr Rama's gallantry may also be strategic. Italy has given large sums to host migrant centres in Albania and sponsors the country's integration into the EU.
Friday's meetings in Tirana set the stage for a flurry of diplomatic encounters in Rome as leaders and religious figures from around the world arrive in the Italian capital to attend Sunday's inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
JD Vance, the US vice-president, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, both of whom are Catholic, will attend the inaugural Mass on Sunday marking the official start of the pontiff's papacy.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president plans to attend, as does Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, and Anthony Albanese, Australia's newly elected PM. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, will represent King Charles, according to Buckingham Palace.
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