Giuli Won’t Be at Strega Prize Giving Ceremony

Rome: Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli will not be attending Thursday night’s award-giving ceremony for the Strega Prize, Italy’s most prestigious literary award. The minister has attributed his absence to not being invited by the organizers, while the organizers claim that Giuli himself decided to pull out.

According to Ansa News Agency, Giuli’s absence is notable as it follows a precedent set by his predecessor, Gennaro Sangiuliano, who also missed the ceremony. Sangiuliano resigned from his position last year amid a scandal involving his lover. Traditionally, the presence of culture ministers at the ceremony has been a standard practice.

Instead of attending the Strega Prize ceremony, Giuli will be in Berlin to inaugurate an exhibition on the renowned Bronzes of San Casciano.