Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Friday that she had ended her relationship with her partner of almost 10 years, Andrea Giambruno, a television journalist who had been accused of making sexist remarks on and off the air.
Meloni, who leads a right-wing coalition government that has championed traditional family values, said on her social media accounts that she and Giambruno had grown apart and that it was time to acknowledge it. The couple have a seven-year-old daughter.
“My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here,” Meloni wrote. “Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it.”
She added that she would not be distracted by her personal troubles and that she would continue to work for the country’s interests. “All those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home,” she said, “will have no success.”
Giambruno, who hosts a news program on Mediaset, a media group owned by the heirs of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a Meloni ally, had faced public backlash for his recent comments that were seen as sexist and disrespectful towards women.
In August, he sparked outrage when he appeared to blame the victim of a gang rape case, saying that women who go dancing and get drunk might “avoid running into certain problems and coming across a wolf” if they stayed sober and alert.
This week, another Mediaset show aired leaked footage of Giambruno using vulgar language and making advances to a female colleague during the breaks of his program. He also boasted about having an affair and suggested that women could work for him if they agreed to have group sex with him.
Giambruno was not immediately available for comment. He had previously defended himself by saying that he was joking and that his remarks were taken out of context.
Meloni, who became Italy’s first female prime minister in October 2022, had said last month that she should not be judged for her partner’s behavior and that she would not answer any questions about him.
She also said that she respected women’s rights and dignity and that she was committed to fighting violence against women, which has been a serious problem in Italy.
Meloni’s announcement of her separation came as she marked her first year in office, during which she has faced several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, the migration issue, and the tensions within her coalition.
Meloni’s popularity has remained high among the voters, who have appreciated her strong leadership and her nationalist stance. She has also gained international recognition for her role in the European Union and NATO.
Additionally, her visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit earned her widespread attention on social media, particularly her warm rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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