Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni abruptly cancelled her planned visit to Cairo to attend the Grand Egyptian Museum’s inauguration, just hours before the scheduled event. 

The decision came despite prior official announcements confirming her attendance and the completion of all logistical and security arrangements between the two governments.

No official explanation has been issued by Palazzo Chigi, but diplomatic and media sources in both Italy and Egypt suggest that the unexpected appearance of former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the ceremony may have been a key reason behind the withdrawal.

Renzi, who served as Italy’s head of government in 2016 during the tragic death of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in Egypt, remains one of Meloni’s most prominent political rivals. 

His presence at the event raised eyebrows, particularly regarding the capacity in which he was invited, given that the same invitation had been extended to the sitting prime minister. 

So far, neither the Egyptian organizers nor the Italian embassy in Cairo have provided clarification about Renzi’s participation. The Italian government has also refrained from confirming whether Meloni’s cancellation was directly linked to his invitation.

The incident has fueled wide debate in the Italian media with some interpreting it as a domestic political message, while others see it as a protocol misstep that led to the last-minute withdrawal from what was intended to be a high-profile cultural event symbolizing the strengthening ties between Cairo and Rome.