Stop smoking: Erdogan to Meloni

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his fervent anti-tobacco campaign to a new, high-profile target: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The interaction occurred on the sidelines of a peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, focused on ending the war in Gaza. In a moment captured on video, Erdogan reportedly told Meloni, “You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking,” promising to find a way to convince her to quit. 

French President Emmanuel Macron, who was standing nearby, quickly interjected, laughing, “It’s impossible!” Meloni accepted the comment, admitting, “I know, “ know," but offered a lighthearted warning, “I don’t want to kill somebody,” implying quitting might affect her temper and sociability. 

The Italian leader has previously confessed to restarting smoking after a 13-year hiatus, noting that it occasionally helped her bond with other politicians. 

Turkey has strict anti-tobacco legislation, Law No. 4207, which bans smoking in enclosed public spaces and restricts tobacco advertising and sales to minors. Meloni was in Egypt primarily to attend the signing ceremony of the peace plan and held bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.