Storm over Mogol's flight on fire brigade helicopter: Minister Piantedosi rebuts opposition accusations

This year's Sanremo festival, beyond the musical emotions, has provided serious fuel for political debate. The flashpoint was the return to the capital of Mogol, the eminent Italian lyricist, who after receiving a lifetime achievement award used air transport provided by the Vigili del Fuoco. The news of using a rescue helicopter to transport the artist triggered an immediate reaction from the opposition, including the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD). Politicians from these groups are thundering about abuse of power and wasting public money for private purposes, suggesting that funds meant for saving lives are being used as a luxury transport for government guests. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi defended the decision, arguing that Mogol is a figure of exceptional importance for Italian culture and his presence at the festival was of a state nature. The minister stressed that the opposition's attacks are pure manipulation aimed at hitting the government by using the name of a widely respected artist. Mogol himself, asked about the journey, spoke in superlatives about the fire brigade officers, calling them "wonderful people" and emphasizing that the flight went off without a hitch. Meanwhile, other political clashes occurred at the festival, including an unfortunate statement by Deputy Prime Minister Salvini about artist Ermal Meta, which aimed to praise assimilation but exposed the politician's lack of knowledge about the singer's life. The institution of a "national monument" in reference to living artists has no strict legal definition in Italy, but is often invoked by politicians to justify special treatment for individuals with outstanding contributions to culture. In an official statement, the fire brigade command assured that the helicopter flight from Sanremo to Rome took place as part of scheduled technical activities and did not affect the formation's "uninterrupted rescue capability." Technical services explained that the aircraft had to be repositioned anyway, and the presence of a passenger did not generate additional operational costs that would burden the state budget. This argument, however, does not convince critics, who point to the negative PR signal sent by using uniformed rescue formations to serve celebrities, even those with legendary status. Simultaneously, the festival became an arena for political demonstrations, as in the case of Roman artist Laika, who sailed from Barcelona to Sanremo to protest the situation in Gaza, linking the musical celebration with burning geopolitical issues. „Mogol è un monumento nazionale, le polemiche sono strumentali.” (Mogol is a national monument, the controversies are instrumental.) — Matteo Piantedosi While right-wing media defend the ministry's gesture as an expression of due respect for the creator of hits like "Il mio canto libero", liberal and left-wing press scrutinizes the procedures and authority to deploy the Interior Ministry's air fleet. This case, though local, fits into a broader European discourse on the boundaries between honoring deserving citizens and the ethics of spending public funds in an era of crisis of trust in state institutions.