Arow has erupted in Italy after legendary lyricist Mogol was flown from the Sanremo Song Festival, where he received a career achievement award on Thursday night, on board a fire-brigade helicopter to receive another gong from firefighting chiefs at a Rome theatre Friday.
    "This is extremely serious, the craft was used for reasons outside its institutional remit," said the USB union, while opposition politicians were also critical.
    Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi slammed what he called "instrumental polemics" and said it was only "normal" to lay on a complimentary flight for the "national monument," who turns 90 in August and is best known for his collaboration with the late Lucio Battisti.
    Mogol said he had had a "great time" on the flight and during the subsequent awards ceremony at Teatro Argentina in the Italian capital, where he was made an honorary member of Italy's fire service after penning their new anthem for their 87th anniversary The opposition 5-Star Movement tabled a parliamentary question to Piantedosi asking why the flight had been laid on.
    "This morning, a Fire Brigade helicopter took off from Sanremo to carry Mogol to Rome, where he was to receive an honour at the Teatro Argentina in the presence of Minister Piantedosi.
    "The flight, according to today's Fatto Quotidiano, was authorized by the Interior Ministry.
    "Maximum respect for Mogol and his artistic career.
    "But here's another point: was it really necessary to use a helicopter rescue vehicle, taking it away from an entire area for hours, when a normal scheduled flight, as Fatto reports, was available? "Fire Brigade helicopters are not state taxis.
    "They are emergency tools at the service of citizens.
    "Therefore, there must have been specific needs, in compliance with all the relevant protocols, or at least that's what we hope.
    "We will submit a parliamentary question to shed full light on the matter.
    "The vehicles intended for security are not at the personal disposal of a minister or a government.
    "They belong to the community.
    "And they must be used responsibly." Piantedosi replied, speaking at the celebrations for the corps' 87th anniversary in the central Roman theatre: "We're thrilled to have Mogol here, and we thank him for what he's given us.

"The rest is just the usual instrumental polemics.
    "We're thrilled to have had such a great artist, a national icon, who has donated part of his artistic talent.
    "He wrote a song and offered it as an anthem to the firefighters, so we're deeply grateful to him." Mogol, whose birth name is Giulio Rapetti, said: "The trip in the firefighters' helicopter from Sanremo to Rome went very well, the firefighters are wonderful, wonderful people and deserve everyone's thanks."
   

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