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Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli Dismisses Key Staff Amid Internal Turmoil

institutional · 2026-05-10

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has reportedly dismissed a significant portion of his staff, including Emanuele Merlino, head of the technical secretariat, and Elena Proietti, head of his personal secretariat. The decision follows a series of controversies involving the Venice Biennale and Beatrice Venezi, and comes amid growing political and operational difficulties. According to leaks from Corriere della Sera, the dismissals stem from disagreements over public image management and communication strategies. Merlino's departure is linked to tensions over institutional communication and press relations, particularly regarding a documentary on Giulio Regeni. Proietti's dismissal is tied to her absence from Giuli's official mission to New York last month. The move signals a major internal reorganization at the Ministry of Culture.

Key facts

  • Alessandro Giuli dismissed most of his staff.
  • Emanuele Merlino and Elena Proietti are among those let go.
  • The decision follows controversies over the Venice Biennale and Beatrice Venezi.
  • Giuli faces growing political and operational difficulties.
  • The news was first reported by Corriere della Sera.
  • Merlino's dismissal is linked to tensions over communication and the Giulio Regeni documentary.
  • Proietti's dismissal is due to her absence from a New York mission.
  • The Ministry of Culture is undergoing a major internal reorganization.

Entities

Artists

  • Beatrice Venezi

Institutions

  • Ministero della Cultura
  • Biennale di Venezia
  • Corriere della Sera

Locations

  • Italy
  • Venice
  • New York

Sources