Minister Sangiuliano resigns: 'I will prove my absolute honesty'. Meloni: 'Honest man'

The Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano has resigned. In his place comes Alessandro Giuli, current present of the Maxxi foundation, who was sworn in at the Quirinale in the evening. Rumours of resignation had been circulating in majority circles over the affair linked to Maria Rosaria Boccia , his (failed) advisor at the ministry. 'Dear president, dear Giorgia,' the minister writes in the resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Meloni, 'after having pondered for a long time, in painful days filled with hatred towards me by a certain political media system, I have decided to irrevocably resign as Minister of Culture. After attempting to resist, the situation precipitated in the early hours of the afternoon, after interlocutions between via del Collegio Romano, the seat of the ministry, and Palazzo Chigi. "I thank you for having decisively defended me, for having already rejected the first request for resignation, and for the affection that you have once again shown me," the minister wrote in his letter.

"I sincerely thank Gennaro Sangiuliano, a capable person and an honest man, for the extraordinary work he has done so far, which has enabled the Italian government to achieve important results in relaunching and enhancing Italy's great cultural heritage, even beyond its borders". Thus in a note, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She added: I have taken note of Sangiuliano's irrevocable resignation and I have proposed to the President of the Republic to appoint Alessandro Giuli, currently President of the MAXXI Foundation, as the new Minister of Culture. He will continue the action of relaunching national culture, consolidating that discontinuity with the past that the Italians have asked of us and that we have initiated from our inauguration until today'.

"My honour is at stake, and I consider it important to be able to act to demonstrate my absolute transparency and correctness, without involving the government". "I am proud of the results achieved on cultural policies in these almost two years of government," Minister Sangiuliano continues in the letter of resignation to premer Meloni, listing the main objectives achieved, from the opening of museums during the holidays to the major exhibitions. 'This work,' Sangiuliano emphasises, 'cannot be tainted and above all stopped by matters of gossip. Institutions are too high a value and must not submit to the motives of individuals. I need personal peace of mind, to be close to my wife whom I love, but above all to have my hands free to act in all legal venues against those who have caused me this damage, starting with an imminent complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which I intend to present'.

"I am pleased to learn that the Court of Auditors is considering opening a file on the matter concerning me. This will give me the opportunity to clarify everything and prove that no public funds were spent and not one euro from the Ministry was used for travel and transfers by Ms Maria Rosaria Boccia,' the Minister added.

"Never a euro from the ministry was spent on improper activities. I have said this and will prove it in every forum. Not only that. I will go all the way to verify whether different interests have contributed to the affair and I will act against those who have published fake news in recent days,' is another passage in Sangiuliano's letter of resignation to Prime Minister Meloni. A letter in which the minister concluded: 'I will act against those who have published fake news in recent days'. Thus the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, in his letter of resignation'.