Mistaken Identity at Beirut Airport: Lebanese Prime Minister Welcomes Wrong Official

He thought it was Giorgia Meloni but it was instead Patrizia Scurti, head of the special secretariat of the prime minister: it is the gaffe in which Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who last night welcomed at the Beirut airport the President of the Council, on an official visit in the Cedar Country. As seen in a video that went viral on social media, the Lebanese leader indeed greeted with a hug and two kisses on the cheeks Scurti, who descended from the airplane staircase holding two bags, together with Francesco Piazza, head of the State ceremonial office. Perhaps deceived by the fact that, as per the ceremony, Meloni was expected to be the first to descend from the airplane, Miqati walked alongside Scurti, until a person from his staff pointed out that the President of the Council had yet to come down. Therefore, the Prime Minister returned to the foot of the staircase, where shortly after he welcomed Meloni: between the two a handshake, kisses on the cheeks, and an exchange of words in which they both smiled. Patrizia Scurti is the special secretary of Giorgia Meloni. And she has been working with the prime minister for about 18 years, while her husband is the head of security for the President of the Council. As reported by Open, those who make comparisons put her in contrast with Vincenza Enea, the historical and very powerful secretary of Giulio Andreotti. Scurti also participates (along with diplomatic advisors and possible translators) in all the meetings and bilateral institutional encounters with European and world counterparts. Including the one with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on the 21st of February.