Meloni defends government after Italian culture minister quits over scandal

CERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 7 - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday her government has not been weakened by a controversy over a consultancy role offered to the former lover of a minister who resigned after a tearful televised apology to his wife. Meloni defends government after Italian culture minister quits over scandal Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, 62, quit on Friday after being embroiled in a scandal which has dominated front pages and become an embarrassment for the government. Sangiuliano had faced a media storm over the role of Maria Rosaria Boccia, a self-proclaimed fashion entrepreneur who last week posted on Instagram that she had been nominated "Advisor to the minister for major events". Meloni - who had initially rejected Sangiuliano's offer to resign - also criticised Italian media for giving disproportionate attention to the events over the past two weeks. "As Italy's national recovery plan has been in good hands with Raffaele Fitto, I have no doubt that it will be in good hands also in the coming years," Meloni said, referring to the imminent appointment of a new minister to manage EU funds.