A clip showing Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's unusual greeting of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a high-level European summit last Friday has gone viral on social media sites in no time.
The viral clip depicts Rama dramatically kneeling on one knee and clasping his palms together in a gesture of deference as Meloni arrives—an action that triggered lighthearted comparisons on social media, with some joking that even Elon Musk may be jealous, echoing longstanding rumors of a personal relationship between the tech giant and the Italian premier.
"Giorgia Meloni really deserves the highest regard from leaders around the world. This is a sight to behold," political commentator Joey Mannarino shared on X.
In the clip, Rama stands at the far end of a crimson carpet with sheets of rain falling around him, supporting an umbrella. When Meloni comes close, he carefully puts down the umbrella, kneels with his hands clasped in a prayer-like gesture, and holds out that position until she approaches him. He then warmly hugs her and flashes a radiant smile as he welcomes her to the EPC summit.
Rama's grand theatrics did not stop at Meloni. Other videos are seen embracing French President Emmanuel Macron in a warm bro hug, complete with a good-natured wisecrack: "Here's the Sun King," he joked, based on an AFP report.
In a witty dig at the weather, Rama also added, "There was a suspicion, but it turned into scientific evidence from the European weather forecasting institution that the continuing — and not native — rain arrived with the British delegation yesterday morning."
Before attending the summit, Rama went to Instagram and posted that he was proud, stating, "Where all of Europe has come today and where the whole world will be watching, I say hello to you."
In an interview with AFP, he said, "It's true that I am the tallest of them, but I am the leader of one of the smallest countries, and for us it is already a big privilege to be able to welcome this summit."
The European Political Community summit brings together members of the European Union and 20 other states. This year's debates were dominated by the war in Ukraine.
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