The „Dolce Vita“ of the „Non-Consultant“ Maria Rosaria Boccia and the Duty of the Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano

The Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano hopes that, with his TV interview from yesterday evening, his tears, the bank statements waved in front of the camera, now his and Maria Rosaria Boccia 's story can be filed away like this. A painful summer feuilleton and nothing more? It will not be so.

Because already today another, much more delicate chapter will open. In the morning, a complaint for embezzlement will arrive on the desks of the Public Prosecutor's Office in Rome, signed by Avs Member of Parliament Angelo Bonelli. This is the same politician who, with his complaint, started the investigation on Undersecretary Andrea Delmastro, now on trial.

Bonelli asks that it be ascertained whether “the improper use of State means and services could constitute the crime of embezzlement”. If, that is, “Dr. Boccia used State means and services”. What is more: As Sangiuliano himself admitted yesterday, Boccia recorded several conversations, including private ones, with the minister and his collaborators.

What do these audios contain? “I am not blackmailable”, the Minister said, immediately queried by Boccia on “Instagram” as if to say that things are not exactly like that. How, then? Newspapers believe now that some audios exist and are many. Boccia used to record conversations with her mobile phone and in some cases even used glasses with a camera (she admitted as much yesterday, claiming that it is not illegal and that this is how everyone does it...). Just as many messages were exchanged between Sangiuliano and Boccia.

While yesterday evening the opening transmission of the TV channel Tg1 first, and then an appendix at the end of the 8 pm news for the interview with the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, will mire for days in the Boccia case.

Overwhelmed by the affair of the “(non-)consultant” who is ending up pillorying the government, subjected point by point to the counter-narrative of Maria Rosaria Boccia herself on her Instagram page, the minister takes the peak audience of the news programme of Viale Mazzini (benefiting from the change of schedule, with the postponement of “Affari Tuoi”) to claim three things. First: “I am not blackmailable.” Second: “We had an affective relationship, and I paid for the trips”, he said, showing sheets that would prove the transactions from his account. Third: “I submitted my resignation to Meloni, but she told me to work on.”

In front of Gianmarco Chiocchi, director of the news programme for which Sangiuliano was deputy director for almost ten years, the minister was moved as he apologised to his wife, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the government and his collaborators. In more than 15 minutes of interview, stigmatised by the oppositions who speak of “private use of the public service”, the man in charge of Culture claims to have presented his resignation to the premier, who rejected it. He then publicly confirms what he had already told Meloni during the private conversation he had on Tuesday with her: He, the Ministry did not pay for any travel or accommodation for the Campania businesswoman, who did not come into possession of any confidential documents on the security of the forthcoming G7 Culture Gala.

What is true in this case? What not? Nobody is lying?