After revelations of his affair with a social media influencer whom he nominated for a senior advisor role, Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano apologised to his wife and Premier Giorgia Meloni for the embarrassment he caused.
In an interview with public broadcaster RAI on Wednesday, Sangiuliano said he had offered his resignation but Meloni rejected it. "I reassured her with documentary evidence that it is a gossip story," he explained. "The prime minister told me to go ahead and immediately clarify the point of truth. She told me, 'always be sincere and always tell the truth.'"
Sangiuliano, a 62-year-old married politician, admitted being with the social media influencer Maria Rosaria Boccia, 41, whom he nominated for a senior advisor's role but stressed that Boccia's role as advisor was never finalised and since revoked over their relationship.
He also insisted that not a single euro of the Italian taxpayer was spent on this affair, and no confidential or classified documents about sensitive activities circulated, stating that he has proof to support his claims.
When asked by the journalist interviewing him if he felt like apologising and to who, Sangiuliano answered with a list: “Look, the first person I have to apologise to because she is exceptional, is my wife (journalist Federica Corsini). Then I apologise to Giorgia Meloni, who trusted me, for the embarrassment I caused to her and obviously to the government," he added.
"I also apologise to my collaborators who, improperly, although they did nothing, find themselves invested in this affair.”
Meloni has not yet asked Sangiuliano to resign, but she has said an investigation was ongoing.
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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