The prank call to Giorgia Meloni, what happened

It was more than a month before it prank call from a Russian comedy duo Giorgia Meloni was recognized as such. Posing as a high-ranking politician from an African country, the duo Vovan and Lexus (formed by Vladimir Kuznetsov and Aleksej Stolyarov), on 18 September managed to mock the secretariats of Palazzo Chigi and the staff of the Prime Minister. The audio was released yesterday by the two comedians.

The positive aspect is that, in over five minutes of conversation, the prime minister reiterated exactly what she says in public.

The phone call

On the war in Ukraine, «I see a lot of tiredness, I must tell the truth, on all sides. We may be close to the moment when everyone understands that we need a way out.” And, when the duo complained that Africa is unable to ask for support from European organisations, because «all EU money goes to Ukraine», Giorgia Meloni replied: «The problem is finding a solution that is acceptable to both parties, without violating international law. I have some ideas on how to handle this situation, but I’m waiting for the right time to try to present these ideas.”

On the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Meloni explained that “maybe it’s not going as expected” and that the conflict is also causing “immigration, inflation and an increase in energy prices”. And again: «Everyone understands that the conflict could continue for many years if we don’t try to find a way out. The problem is what solution is acceptable to both without opening new conflicts. You know what I think about Libya… We could discuss for hours, my friend, what happened. Maybe someone understands that the situation there is no better now.”

And, on Russia’s requests for the unblocking of the wheat agreement, «We need to discuss it. We have to find a solution. I discussed it at the G20. If we allow Russia to blackmail us, it will get worse, but if we don’t find other solutions, it will become an impossible problem. We have to get out of this somehow.”

As for the African migrants, «the situation is rather complicated: since the beginning of the year, more than 120 thousand people have arrived, especially from Tunisia. The situation is very difficult on all fronts, the humanitarian situation, the logistical situation, the security situation. And I think this flow may increase due to the situation that is developing in Africa, especially in the Sahel.” Giorgia Meloni also criticized her colleagues from the European Union: «Europe for a long time thought it could solve the problem by leaving Italy alone. What they don’t understand is that it’s impossible. The scale of this phenomenon affects, in my opinion, not only the European Union, but also the United Nations. But the problem is that others don’t care. They didn’t answer the phone when I called them. And they all agree that Italy must solve this problem alone. This is a very stupid position. The EU says it understands. But when you ask them to allocate funds, to help, it becomes more difficult, I have to tell the truth.”

The note from Palazzo Chigi

After the audio of the prank call was released yesterday, a note was released: «The Office of the Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers regrets having been deceived by an impostor who posed as the President of the African Union Commission and who was put in telephone contact with president Giorgia Meloni. The episode occurred on 18 September in the context of the intense commitment developed in those hours by President Meloni to strengthen relations with African leaders, with whom she had important meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly between 19 and September 21st.”

Comedy duo Vovan & Lexus have, in the past, targeted other international leaders, such as the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, the Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and the former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.