There is no peace between the Strega Prize and the Ministers of Culture of the Meloni government. After the clash between Gennaro Sangiuliano and Geppi Cucciari who in 2023 asked the then minister for an opinion on the finalist books and he replied that he would have liked to deepen them, so Geppi said the joke that became viral “Ah, he did not read them!”, In 2024 the minister deserted the prize and now also the current one, Alessandro Giuli will not be at the final ceremony of 3 July.
He will be absent to participate in Berlin in a series of bilateral meetings and the inauguration of the exhibition on the bronzes of San Casciano, but on the eve he is controversial with the organizers. “I register the fact that I was invited to the evening of the Strega Prize, were very nice, but I have not received any contact and no books. It is a bit curious that one should go to the evening of the Strega Prize, not having received the books for which the evening is organized. That said the joke, because such is, it is: it is seen that they consider me an ‘Sunday enemy’ »says Giuli in the transatlantic in the Chamber.
The answer is not long in coming Of the main Italian literary recognition: “Relations with the minister have always been friendly, we got cordially on the occasion of the last Turin Book Fair. We did not send him the books of the prize because we ask the publishers to send them solely to the jury of the witch, from which he resigned on the day of his appointment at the Ministry of Culture. In his letter he wrote: ‘The assumption of this office does not allow me to continue to carry out my assignment as a member of the Amici della Domenica – Strega Prize group, conferred on me as president of the Maxxi Foundation. With this present, therefore, resign my resignation with immediate effect from this body “” underlines the director of the Bellonci Foundation, Stefano Petrocchi.
«Of course the minister was among the guests at tomorrow’s final evening (today, editor’s note) in Villa Giulia, as previously to that of the Strega Poetry prize on 9 October, and we will be happy to re -use it next year on the occasion of our eighteenth edition. If he also wants to return to the jury of the prize, we would be equally honored, “says Petrocchi.
The minister then ironically on his absence: «The evening will be beautiful the same. Maybe a little less fun, without Geppi Cucciari and Alessandro Giuli “. “I dedicate myself – he adds – to look for European funds for culture going to speak with my German counterpart in Germany. I am not even sworn, I have no title of juror, I no longer have any title evidently, but you should ask the Bellonci Foundation”. The books? “Then maybe I buy them for the pleasure of reading them, because I have the pleasure of reading”.
For two consecutive years, the witch’s final at the Etruscan National Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome will therefore take place without the presence of the Minister of Culture. It is to be hoped that in 2026, when the 80 years of the main Italian literary prize will be celebrated – “So from 4 July we would all be at work” said the president of the Bellonci Foundation, Giovanni Solimine – things go a little better. The super favorite of this edition remains Andrea Bajani with the anniversary (Feltrinelli), already winner of the Strega Giovani 2025 award. Nadia Terranova will put it with what I know of you (Guanda), also favored to victory, but Elisabetta Rasy is also on the rise with lost sea (Rizzoli) so much so that it seems to set a three -like challenge with most likely two for second place. The other authors in the running are Paolo Nori with the door and scream (Mondadori) and Michele Ruol with the inventory of what remains after the forest burns (Terrarossa).
Geppi Cucciari will also miss Pino Strabioli who in 2024 was running with her. This time to the evening live on Rai3 from 22.50 there will be Filippo Timi who “prepared five theatrical moments taking the incipit of the books of the five finalists”, Anna Foglietta who will go on stage remembering Pasolini to 50 years of death and following the thread that unites the five books, the family. Anna Foa will be interviewed, recent winner of the first edition of the wizard witch award with ‘The suicide of Israel’ (Laterza).
To lighten the spirits, the Book Party Abracbook will be staged tonight together with the authors and authors of the Cinquina, in the Maxxi Museum square in Rome, thanks to the collaboration between the Holden school, the Bellonci Foundation and the Maxxi Foundation.