İlber Ortaylı shares notes from Italian PM Meloni's Grand Bazaar visit: The 'cigarette' and 'pumpkin dessert' detail

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Grand Bazaar before her meeting with President Tayyip Erdoğan the previous day. 

Renowned historian Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı was also by her side during the visit to the world-famous Istanbul landmark. Meloni was most interested in the Ottoman-motif chandeliers. She asked about gift shawls, coffee cups, carpets, and silver items. She frequently took photos with the shopkeepers. Prof. Dr. Ortaylı, who accompanied Meloni on this visit, shared his impressions of the trip.

"THIS IS A SIGN OF ELEGANCE"

According to the report by Musa Kesler from Hürriyet; Ortaylı said the following:

“Meloni is someone I already follow. I think she is the most successful and colorful among European prime ministers... I also do not agree with the exaggerations regarding her political views. Because I do not know a more liberal politician than her in Europe. Neither the German nor French prime ministers, nor those of the Netherlands and Sweden, none of them are like her. She is an extremely sympathetic lady, and humble too. She asked, ‘May I smoke?’ This is a sign of elegance. She looks very young for her age. She has a childlike face. She has a warm personality. She also speaks foreign languages. She is someone who has contact with the public. That is how an Italian Prime Minister should be. She has no arrogance at all. She did not lack humility toward a waiter, a police officer, her own delegation, or those who welcomed her. She was polite to everyone.”

"A NEIGHBORHOOD CONSISTING OF SOCIAL HOUSING BUILT BY MUSSOLINI"

“The Grand Bazaar shopkeepers are also well-organized. They have known the protocol for this business for years. There is Mete Boybeyi, who is in the management of the bazaar shopkeepers. He organized the environment very well. Like other Italians, Meloni was very curious about lamps. She was very interested in chandeliers and lamps with old motifs. She looked at silver and carpets. We spent two hours. The Grand Bazaar shopkeepers gave many gifts. They welcomed her very sympathetically. Meloni behaved in a similarly sympathetic manner. She has a personality close to the public. The environment she grew up in also has an influence on this. I asked about the neighborhood where she was born and raised, and she told me. I know that neighborhood. It is a neighborhood consisting of social housing built by Mussolini. At that time, the middle-class Italian public lived there. Today, those residences and neighborhoods are considered luxury, of course.”

SHE DID NOT EAT THE PUMPKIN DESSERT

Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı also added, “Dessert was also offered to Meloni. I noticed that she did not touch the pumpkin dessert at all. Because Italians do not really like pumpkin.”

News Source: 12punto