Italian PM Giorgia Meloni splits from journalist partner Andrea Giambruno over sexist comments

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced her separation from her partner, television journalist Andrea Giambruno, due to his recent sexist comments both on and off air. Meloni took to her social media accounts to share the news, stating that their paths had diverged and it was time to acknowledge it. The couple, who were together for almost 10 years, have a seven-year-old daughter.

Giambruno is known as the presenter of a news program aired by Mediaset, which is part of the MFE media group owned by the heirs of former premier Silvio Berlusconi, who is also an ally of Meloni. In the past week, excerpts from Giambruno's program were broadcast off-air, revealing him using offensive language and making inappropriate advances towards a female colleague.

"My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here," Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. "Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it," she said.



The month before, Meloni told reporters that she wouldn't answer questions about Giambruno's behavior in the future and that people shouldn't judge her based on what he said.

The couple who met in a TV studio in 2014.

The 46-year-old prime minister is celebrating her first year in office as leader of a right-wing coalition government that has stood up for the regular family as a key part of its program.

In one instance, he remarked, "Why didn't I meet you before?" In another recording, he boasted about an affair and suggested that female colleagues could gain professional opportunities by participating in group sex.

This is not the first time Giambruno has faced criticism. In August, he made victim-blaming comments following a gang rape case, implying that women should avoid certain situations to prevent such incidents. Meloni had previously stated that she should not be held accountable for her partner's remarks and expressed her intention not to address questions about his behavior in the future.

(Inputs from Reuters)