Italy: Uproar over Casamonica family TV interview

Host Bruno Vespa grilled Vera and Vittorino Casamonica about their relative's ostentatious funeral

Italy's state broadcaster is under fire for inviting relatives of an alleged mafia boss to speak on its flagship current affairs show.

Politicians have blasted Rai Uno's Porta a Porta programme for hosting the daughter and grandson of the late Vittorio Casamonica on Tuesday evening, the Il Giornale newspaper reports. Officials say Casamonica - whose extravagant funeral made headlines in August - headed a Rome-based clan which is accused of racketeering, extortion and drug trafficking.

During the interview, Vera Casamonica told host Bruno Vespa - one of Italy's best-known journalists - that her father was "not a boss" and that people referred to him as "pope" because "he was too good, like Pope Francis". Vespa noted while on air that neither of his guests had a criminal record, and said public service television "has to cover everything".

But that hasn't been enough to placate the critics. "I feel offended as mayor of the capital and as a citizen who pays the TV licence fee," Mayor Ignazio Marino tells La Stampa. Marino has called for an investigation into the broadcast. His deputy, Marco Causi, says he hopes "that someone at Rai has the good taste to apologise to Rome, to Romans and to all citizens".

It has also ignited a debate on social media, where many Italians describe the broadcast as "shameful". One Twitter user says Rai "sacrificed the dignity of a nation and of Rome" to boost viewing figures. But others disagree, with one person writing: "I am only sorry to have missed this interview - I am very interested to know what the Casamonica say and think." Another user defends the veteran journalist, saying Vespa "did his job - to reflect reality".

The Godfather theme tune was played at Vittorio Casamonica's funeral last month

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