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Relinquishing undesired gifts could be considered somewhat rude – except if it's done for a noble purpose.

A Philanthropic Auction

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction an estimated 270 gifts given to her by international figures during her travels. The diverse haul is said to contain gifts including a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels.

The collection, combined, are worth an estimated €800,000. They are scheduled to be auctioned off via competitive bidding by a Rome-based art dealer. An exact timeline has not been finalized, although the aim is to conduct the sale by year's end, with the proceeds going to non-profit organizations.

Palazzo Chigi Treasures

The items are currently locked away in a repository on the third floor of the government headquarters. Sources state that Meloni furthermore planning to auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been sitting unused over a long period.

The detailed catalog remains officially released, but a glimpse was gleaned earlier this year when a comprehensive document of all declared gifts was submitted to lawmakers. The question raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being honored. According to regulation, a prime minister must declare presents worth more than €300.

A Global Assortment of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A silk accessory from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A traditional Kerala dress from India's prime minister.
• A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president.
• A fine china tea service and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the former US president.
• A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
• Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
• Additional objects including makeup, a skateboard, and several rugs received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Possibly the oddest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," one might note.

Political Context

The prime minister has received praise, particularly from within her party, with garnering support from international counterparts and positioning Italy as a key protagonist on the global scene once again.

The forthcoming sale highlights a novel approach to handle the diplomatic artifacts that build up during a political career.