Getty ImagesItaly’s culture minister has resigned amid controversy over the appointment of his former mistress as a senior adviser, sparking weeks of controversy in the country’s right-wing government.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, 62, found himself at the center of a media storm after his ex-lover Maria Rosaria Boccia posted on LinkedIn that she had been raped Appointed as his “major events” advisor.
Sangiuliano initially denied the claims, but in an interview with state television on Wednesday he tearfully admitted to having an affair with Ms. Boccia and hiring her as an unpaid consultant.
He finally handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Georgia Meloni on Friday, but denied he had broken any ministerial rules.
Mr. Sangiuliano also apologized to his wife in an interview on Wednesday and claimed that he had severed ties with Ms. Bocia over the summer. He said he first met her in Naples in May and their friendship turned into what he called an “emotional relationship.”
Throughout the incident, Ms. Boccia recorded her interactions with Mr. Sangiuliano on her cell phone and a pair of RayBan Stories, sunglasses designed by Meta that come equipped with a camera and microphone. Many of the photos were subsequently posted to Instagram, with Ms Bocia insisting there was “nothing illegal” about her secret recordings.
In photos posted on Ms Bocia’s account, she documented multiple trips with Mr Sangiuliano during official visits, raising questions about whether state funds were spent on her travel or accommodation.
Gennaro SangiulianoThe minister denied any suggestion that public funds had been spent on Ms Bosia, telling state television on Wednesday that “not a single euro” had been spent on her trip. He produced documents that he said supported his claim that he had paid her fees.
Critics are also concerned about Ms Bossia’s access to confidential information after she was photographed accompanying ministers to Pompeii – the site of next month’s meeting of G7 culture ministers. Other images show her having access to department offices and obtaining documents.
Since the couple split, the 41-year-old has launched a series of accusations against Mr Sangiuliano, earning her the nickname “The Machine Gunner” in the Italian media.
Gennaro Sangiuliano Ms Meloni thanked the outgoing culture minister for his “extraordinary work”, writing on ”.
But the defeat is the latest embarrassment for Ms Meloni’s government, led by her far-right Brothers of Italy party.
Several of her senior ministers are under investigation for various scandals, including Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè, who faces charges of false accounting and fraud.
Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida sparked outrage by ordering him to get off a late-night high-speed train early. Undersecretary Vittorio Sgarbi faces Charged with illegally obtaining a valuable Renaissance painting.
On Wednesday, Ms Meloni appeared to express her anger at the cabinet and told ministers to be more cautious at public events.
“We are making history and we all need to realize that,” the prime minister told a conference. “This doesn’t allow for breaks and pauses, not to mention errors and wrong steps.”
Despite the scandal, her government remains relatively popular in the polls and Italy’s opposition remains divided between multiple parties.
