Could quitting smoking make Italian PM Meloni less sociable?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has jokingly suggested that forcing her to quit smoking could make her dangerous, remarking she might “kill somebody,” during the recent Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

The playful exchange occurred when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has committed to making Turkey smoke-free, told Meloni she looked “great” but needed to stop smoking. The comment elicited laughter from French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Macron joking that it was “impossible” to make Meloni quit.

Meloni responded with humour, emphasising that she did not want to harm anyone. She has recently revealed in a book that she resumed smoking after a 13-year hiatus, joking that the habit has helped her bond with other world leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.

Erdoğan has launched the "Smoke-Free Türkiye" campaign, backed by a 2024-2028 action plan designed to raise awareness, support cessation, and protect youth from tobacco use.

The light-hearted moment came amidst serious discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh, where global leaders gathered to support a ceasefire in Gaza, address the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and discuss long-term governance and reconstruction strategies for Palestinian territories.