Italian culture minister’s affair scandal rocks government
Minister's affair with influencer stirs allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds
Italy is in turmoil after it emerged that the mistress of its culture minister discreetly recorded herself within government corridors using glasses equipped with a hidden camera.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, aged 62, was visibly emotional as he admitted to an affair with fashion influencer Maria Rosaria Boccia. The relationship ended over the summer, after a brief yet intense period.
Sangiuliano revealed he met Boccia at a Naples party in May this year, ending their relationship by early August. In apparent anger, Boccia, 41, who holds two economics degrees, has been disseminating private conversations accusing Sangiuliano of corruption and the misuse of public funds.
She alleged that Sangiuliano funded her trips with public money, shared confidential information, and appointed her as a special adviser, raising conflict of interest concerns. Boccia supported her claims with audio recordings of phone calls with government officials, screenshots of flight tickets, and images of official event programmes.
She also used Ray-Ban Stories sunglasses, featuring a built-in microphone and camera, to record herself inside Palazzo Montecitorio, where filming is prohibited. The minister contended that he funded most of her trips personally and denied ministry approval for an adviser role.
dove cazzo siamo finiti: ministro della cultura che si scusa per il tradimento in diretta tg nazionale addirittura IN ESCLUSIVA pic.twitter.com/WNsqEZX7tX
— fra. (@mesch1no) September 5, 2024
He stated, “She didn’t have access to classified or confidential documents.” Boccia countered this by posting documents on Instagram, purportedly proving her involvement in official meetings, site visits, and consultations.
In an interview with Italian media on Wednesday, Sangiuliano tearfully apologised to his wife, Federica Corsini: “The first person I have to apologise to, who is an exceptional person, is my wife.” He also mentioned apologising to his superior, Giorgia Meloni, who he said did not accept his resignation.
Meloni has not officially commented on the scandal. However, during a Wednesday meeting, she remarked, “We are making history, and we all need to be aware of it. This does not allow for breaks and pauses, and much less for errors and false steps.” Her government has faced several scandals this year. Tourism minister Daniela Santanchè is under investigation for alleged fraud and false accounting.
Meloni herself ended her longstanding relationship with her daughter’s father after he was caught making inappropriate remarks to female colleagues at his TV station.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Telegraph details Italy’s culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, admitting to an affair with fashion influencer Maria Rosaria Boccia, apologizing to his wife and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while denying any security breaches.(read more)
- Reuters reports that Italy’s culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, admitted to an affair with a woman named Maria Rosaria Boccia, sparking questions about the use of public funds and potential conflicts of interest, testing PM Giorgia Meloni’s loyalty.(read more)
- Wanted in Rome provides an overview of the controversy surrounding Italy’s culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, who is embroiled in a scandal involving influencer Maria Rosaria Boccia, including claims about expenses and access to classified documents.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Gennaro Sangiuliano?
Gennaro Sangiuliano is Italy’s culture minister.
What did Maria Rosaria Boccia do?
She recorded private conversations and filmed herself with secret cameras, implicating Sangiuliano in a corruption scandal.
How did Sangiuliano respond to the accusations?
He denied using public funds for Boccia and claimed she didn’t access confidential documents.
What has been Giorgia Meloni’s reaction to the scandal?
Meloni has not officially commented but rejected Sangiuliano’s resignation.
What other scandals have affected Meloni’s government?
Her tourism minister is being investigated for fraud, and Meloni ended her relationship with her partner over lewd remarks.
