CERNOBBIO, Italy – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended her government’s stability on Saturday following the resignation of Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, who stepped down after a scandal involving a consultancy role offered to his former lover.
Sangiuliano, 62, resigned on Friday after a media frenzy surrounding his offer of a position to Maria Rosaria Boccia, a fashion entrepreneur who had announced her new role as “Advisor to the minister for major events” on social media. The scandal, which has captivated the media and public, led to Sangiuliano’s emotional public apology to his wife.
Meloni, addressing the issue at a business forum in Cernobbio, asserted that the government remains strong despite the controversy. She praised Sangiuliano’s contributions over the past two years but expressed disappointment at the media’s focus on the scandal.
“If someone thinks that situations such as these could be a way to weaken the government, I am afraid that’s not the case,” Meloni said. “I have followed these events like other women have, and I must say that my idea of how a woman earns a role in society is the complete opposite.”
Initially, Meloni had rejected Sangiuliano’s resignation, but eventually accepted it to alleviate media pressure. She now urges a focus on the new minister, Alessandro Giuli, who has taken over from Sangiuliano and is the head of the MAXXI contemporary arts museum in Rome.
The resignation marks the first significant shake-up in Meloni’s right-wing coalition government, which has otherwise maintained high popularity and navigated a divided opposition. Sangiuliano, though a political ally, was not a member of Meloni’s party and had previously made gaffes, such as admitting at an awards ceremony that he would “try to read” the books he was supposed to have already read as a juror.
Meloni also addressed the impending departure of European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto, who is nominated for a role in the European Commission. She expressed confidence that Italy’s national recovery plan would remain in capable hands with the new appointment, highlighting the ongoing strength and continuity of her administration.