Scandal in Italy: Legendary artist Mogol flew on fire department service helicopter

The event that has dominated Italian media in recent days began with a ceremonial highlight at the Sanremo festival. Mogol, one of the most esteemed lyricists in the history of Italian music, received a prestigious lifetime achievement award. However, what happened after the ceremony sparked a political storm. The artist made the return journey from Sanremo to Rome aboard a helicopter belonging to the Vigili del Fuoco. Criticism from opposition groups, including the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD), was immediate. Politicians accused the authorities of extreme irresponsibility and wasting resources meant for saving lives. They emphasized that a machine designated for rescue tasks was used for a celebrity's logistical purposes. Mogol himself, in statements to the media, said the journey went very well and called the firefighters "wonderful people," but this did not silence the voices of outrage. Italian law strictly regulates the rules for civilians using state transport, allowing exceptions only in situations of higher necessity or special state interest, which often becomes a source of conflict between the government and opposition. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi came to the defense of the transport decision. He argued that Mogol's presence on board did not affect the operational readiness of the services. The fire department issued an official statement assuring the "uninterrupted rescue capability" of the unit during the flight. The minister emphasized that Mogol's figure is so important to Italian culture that he deserves the highest respect and special treatment, and he dismissed the opposition's attacks as purely political maneuvers. Despite these explanations, the media highlight the precedent-setting nature of the event, which raises questions about the boundaries between honoring deserving citizens and the abuse of state powers. „Mogol è un monumento nazionale, polemiche strumentali; contento di averlo avuto qui.” (Mogol is a national monument, instrumental polemics; happy to have had him here.) — Matteo Piantedosi 630 km — is the distance from Sanremo to Rome covered by the artist This case fits into the broader context of discussions about the ethics of governance and the transparency of public spending in Italy. While substantively the interior ministry assures there were no irregularities, from a public image perspective, a civilian using a fire department helicopter to return from a music festival remains for many a symbol of elitism and disregard for procedures by the incumbent administration.