Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni splits from partner after his sexist TV comments
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has split with her partner, newspaper editor Luca Telese, after he made sexist comments about women on a television show. On the morning chat show I Fatti Vostri, Telese said that women have the power to be ‘seductive’ and ‘use their weapons’, remarks that were strongly criticised in Italy.
In response, Meloni tweeted that she “never wanted nor accepted any of the words said by Luca Telese, which I strongly condemn. I have decided to end our relationship and I wish him the best of luck”.
Meloni has won widespread praise for her decision to take a strong stance against gender-based discrimination. The Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, said that she had “firmly and courageously defended the value of equality between men and women”.
Many female politicians in Italy, such as parliament speaker Roberto Fico and justice minister Marta Cartabia, have also shared their support for the prime minister. Her former partner’s remarks have been widely condemned, and broadcasters have since announced they will no longer invite him onto TV shows.