Sanremo song fest won't be political - Baglioni

(ANSA) - Sanremo, February 4 - Italy's popular Sanremo song festival that kicks off on Tuesday won't be political, its artistic director Caludio Baglioni said Monday.
    "It will not be a political festival, not in the sense that we would think about", said Baglioni, one of the country's greatest singers and song-writers who is the festival's artistic director for the second consecutive year.
    The 69th edition of the festival "will be based on songs", he said. The musical event, which wraps up on Saturday, is "the hardest thing that ever happened in my life", Baglioni also told a press conference on the eve of opening night.
    This year, Baglioni said he will duet with guests on songs they are presenting or by other writers.
    He also announced that three evenings will open with him singing his songs and with the same team of dancers and choreographies by Giluano Peparini that have been part of his concert tours. Celebrated singer-songwriter Riccardo Cocciante will be among the guest stars at the Sanremo festival, the artistic director said.
    "Cocciante is among the last arrivals and will appear on the third night," he announced.
    Baglioni described Cocciante as an international star like Andrea Bocelli marking the festival's popularity outside the country.
    Last month, Baglioni made headlines at a presentation of the festival when he criticized Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's refusal to receive 49 asylum seekers who had been at sea on rescue ships run by NGOs Sea Watch and Sea Eye.
    "There are millions of people in movement, it's not possible to think that the problem can be solved by avoiding the arrival of 40-50 people", Baglioni said during a press conference to present the festival, calling the stance a "farce".
    Salvini responded urging Baglioni to "sing so you'll get over it".