On Wednesday, Francesco Spano resigned as Chief of Staff for Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, a position he had held since October 14. In his resignation letter, Spano did not detail the reasons behind his decision, but cited a “context filled with unpleasant personal attacks” that left him unable to maintain the necessary peace of mind for such an important role. Minister Giuli, who was appointed on September 6, accepted the resignation while expressing his “full support” and condemning the “barbaric climate of defamation” surrounding Spano.
Giuli’s comments referred to the increasing rumors circulating about Spano, particularly fueled by previews from the upcoming episode of the investigative show Report on Rai 3. A brief clip of the segment, set to air on Sunday, suggests a potential conflict of interest related to Spano’s lawyer and spouse, Marco Carnabuci, which has further intensified the controversy.
Earlier this week, Report host Sigfrido Ranucci alluded to an investigation into a case resembling that of Maria Rosaria Boccia, the businesswoman involved in a scandal that led to the resignation of former Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. The parallels between these cases suggest that Spano’s resignation may be an attempt to shield Giuli and the ministry from further embarrassment once the episode airs.
Spano’s appointment had already sparked internal tensions within Fratelli d’Italia, with some party members loyal to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressing discontent. Giuli’s choice to replace Francesco Gilioli, a close ally of Senate President Ignazio La Russa, with Spano had been met with skepticism from Meloni’s inner circle. The tension traces back to old grievances from Spano’s previous roles, which have resurfaced in recent weeks.
A lawyer from Pisa and a progressive Catholic, Spano first gained attention in 2016 when he was appointed head of UNAR, Italy’s anti-discrimination office. He resigned in 2017 following an exposé by Le Iene, which accused UNAR of funding an association involved in questionable activities. The scandal led to public scrutiny of Spano’s personal life, revealing his homosexuality. The Report episode delves into his continued legal collaborations with his husband, Carnabuci, raising conflict of interest concerns related to their work at Rome’s MAXXI museum and the Ministry of Culture.
