Albania’s PM gives showman’s welcome to Europe’s leaders

TIRANA: Kneeling to greet Italy´s Giorgia Meloni and gripping France´s Emmanuel Macron in a bro hug, Albania´s Prime Minister Edi Rama hosted Europe´s leaders on Friday with his showman´s panache undampened by torrential rain.

Fresh from securing a fourth term at the weekend -- after campaigning on a pledge to take Albania into the EU by 2030 -- Rama made plain his delight in welcoming counterparts from the bloc and beyond, as he basked in his resounding reelection win.

A larger-than-life figure towering two metres tall, Rama had a word and a smile for each of the more than 40 leaders attending the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC).

From Tirana, “where all of Europe has come today and where the whole world will be watching, I say hello to you”, the prime minister wrote on Instagram ahead of the gathering. The show began with Rama twirling a navy blue umbrella on a bright red carpet, with the EPC´s star-shaped logo adorning his necktie and trademark sneakers.

When Meloni arrived, he knelt playfully to the ground -- as he often does for his Italian “sister” -- while making a point of escorting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the opera building where the leaders were holding talks.

Greeting Macron, Rama quipped “Here´s the Sun King” -- as the clouds parted and the pair hugged before walking inside. After days of sunshine in Tirana, Rama had a punchline for the British in attendance as well -- suggesting they may have had a hand in the dampening turn of events.