Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Steps Down Due to ⁤Personal Scandal

Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s Minister of Culture, ⁣has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The ⁣decision comes after ​a public scandal surrounding his relationship with a 41-year-old influencer, Maria Rosaria Boccia, who is 20 years his junior.

Boccia had publicly thanked Sangiuliano on Instagram for appointing her as a consultant ​for major events, including the upcoming G7 culture ministers’ meeting⁣ in Pompeii. However, the ministry denied any involvement, and Sangiuliano claimed that no state funds were used to compensate her.

Despite initial denials, it was later revealed​ that Sangiuliano had an affair with Boccia, who had accompanied him on several trips and even taken photos with him wearing smart glasses. In a televised interview, Sangiuliano broke down in tears and apologized⁢ to​ his ⁤wife and Prime Minister Meloni for his actions.

Sangiuliano, a member of Meloni’s‌ right-wing Fratelli d’Italia​ party, had offered his resignation earlier but was initially retained in his position. His tenure as Minister of Culture‍ has been ​marked⁣ by ⁣several gaffes, including a claim that ⁣Christopher Columbus ‍followed Galileo Galilei’s theories on his oceanic journey,‌ despite ⁤Galilei living a century ⁣later.

Sangiuliano’s blunders have earned‍ him ⁣a reputation for being prone to mistakes. He has also been known to have jumped between​ different parties in ‌the past, earning him the nickname “Tarzan” for his ability to swing from one ‍party to another.