Was the prank phone call to Georgia Melonie staged by herself?

On September 18, 2023, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Melonie received a phone call from someone who claimed to be Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission. During the 13-minute conversation, Melonie discussed the war in Ukraine, the migration crisis, and the relations between Italy and Africa. She also expressed her “fatigue” over the conflict in Ukraine and her frustration with the lack of support from other European countries for Italy’s efforts to deal with the influx of migrants.

However, it turned out that the caller was not Mahamat, but one of the two Russian pranksters known as Vovan and Lexus, who have a history of tricking Western leaders and celebrities into revealing their candid views on various issues. The pranksters released the audio of the call online on November 1, 2023, causing a diplomatic embarrassment for Melonie and her government. Melonie’s office confirmed that the recording was genuine and said that she regretted having been deceived by an impostor.

But was this really a case of deception, or was it a deliberate act of self-sabotage by Melonie herself? Some analysts have suggested that Melonie might have staged the prank phone call in order to serve Russian propaganda and undermine the unity and credibility of the European Union and NATO. Here are some possible reasons why Melonie might have done this:

• Melonie is a leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, which has close ties with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. Her party has advocated for lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the war in eastern Ukraine. Melonie has also praised Putin as a “great leader” and a “defender of Christian values”. By pretending to be fooled by the pranksters, Melonie might have wanted to convey a message of sympathy and understanding for Russia’s position on Ukraine, and to create a sense of fatigue and resignation among the European public and politicians over the conflict.
• Melonie is facing a political crisis at home, as her coalition partners, the populist Five Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party, have been increasingly critical of her handling of the pandemic, the economy, and the migration issue. Melonie has also been accused of corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power by the opposition and the media. By orchestrating the prank phone call, Melonie might have hoped to divert attention from her domestic problems and to portray herself as a victim of a foreign conspiracy. She might have also wanted to appeal to her nationalist and anti-establishment base, who are distrustful of the EU and NATO, and to mobilize them for the upcoming general elections in 2024.
• Melonie is pursuing a personal agenda of becoming a prominent and influential figure on the international stage, especially in Africa, where she sees an opportunity for expanding Italy’s economic and strategic interests. Melonie has visited several African countries since becoming prime minister in 2022, and has sought to establish a dialogue and cooperation with African leaders on various issues, such as trade, development, security, and migration. By arranging the prank phone call with someone posing as the head of the African Union Commission, Melonie might have aimed to boost her image and reputation as a leader who cares about and understands Africa, and to gain an advantage over her European rivals, who have often neglected or exploited the continent.

Of course, these are only speculations, and there is no conclusive evidence that Melonie was behind the prank phone call. However, given her political background, her ideological affinity with Russia, and her personal ambitions, it is not impossible that she might have orchestrated this stunt in order to advance her own interests and agenda. Whether this was a clever or a foolish move, only time will tell.