Giuli says 'not offended' by predecessor's nominations

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - The new Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli told the Lower House on Wednesday that he does "not feel in the least offended by the choices" made by his predecessor Gennaro Sangiuliano regarding the recent appointment of members of a ministerial commission for the concession of funding to movie projects.
    Giuli was responding to a question presented by ex-premier Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva (IV) party over the recent nominations made by Sangiuliano, who stepped down last week over a scandal regarding the disputed appointment of his alleged lover as a top adviser.
    The former culture minister appointed the members of the cinema commission before his resignation became official.
    Giuli went on to tell the Lower House that the decree appointing members of the culture ministry's commission "will need to be perfected" and will be "enriched" based on a number of criteria, including the "respect of gender balance on which I intend to intervene".
    The ministerial decree appointed as commission members "15 experts of proven experience and high-level CVs", Giuli said, citing among others film critic Paolo Mereghetti whom he described as "far from being identifiable as client of minister Sangiuliano".
    Giuli was sworn in as culture minister on September 6. (ANSA).