ROME, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she had separated from her television journalist partner Andrea Giambruno, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks for sexist comments. Meloni told reporters last month she should not be judged over Giambruno's remarks and in future would not answer questions about his behaviour. The split comes as the 46-year-old prime minister celebrates her first year in office at the head of a right-wing coalition government that has defended the traditional family as one of its policy hallmarks. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here," Meloni wrote on her social media accounts. The TV journalist had been widely criticised in August for comments interpreted by many as victim-blaming, following a gang rape case.

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Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Andrea Giambruno, Meloni, Giambruno, Mediaset, Silvio Berlusconi, Marco Furfaro, Gavin Jones, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Italian, Democratic Party, Thomson