Italian Culture Minister Admits to Affair and Attempt to Hire Lover as Consultant

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces political turbulence after her culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, admitted to an affair and revealed attempts to hire his lover as a ministry consultant. In an emotional interview with Italy's RAI state broadcaster, Sangiuliano confessed he had offered his resignation to Meloni, but she refused to accept it.

The scandal broke last week when Maria Rosaria Boccia, a social media influencer, announced on Instagram that she had taken on a new role advising the culture ministry on major events. The ministry, however, denied her claim. Boccia later published documents and photos showing her accompanying Sangiuliano on business trips, including a visit she said was related to the upcoming G7 ministerial meeting on culture in Positano, Italy.

Sangiuliano, who is married, admitted that he had initially offered Boccia a position as a consultant but retracted the offer after being advised it would pose a conflict of interest due to their "personal, sentimental" relationship. He emphasized that no public funds were used for their trips and that Boccia had no access to sensitive government documents.

Tearfully apologizing to both his wife and Prime Minister Meloni, Sangiuliano expressed regret for the embarrassment caused to the government. Despite the controversy, Meloni has chosen to keep Sangiuliano in his position.