🔗 Share this article

Passing on unwanted gifts can be considered somewhat rude – unless it's done in the proper manner.

A Philanthropic Clear-Out

The Italian premier, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell around 270 gifts given to her by world leaders while abroad. This unusual assortment reportedly features gifts including a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of blue python skin shoes with gilded heels.

The collection, collectively, have an approximate value of €800,000. The plan is to put up for sale in a public auction by a Italian fine art auction house. The specific date remains to be announced, although the intention is to conduct the sale by year's end, with the proceeds donated to non-profit organizations.

Storage Room Holdings

These gifts reportedly stored in a secure area on the third floor of the government headquarters. Reports indicate that Meloni furthermore planning to auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been sitting unused indefinitely.

The detailed catalog remains made public, but a glimpse emerged earlier this year when a comprehensive document of all declared gifts was presented in parliament. The question focused on if a statutory cap on gift value was being honored. Legally, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents valued above €300.

A Global Assortment of Gifts

Among the items:

• A scarf from the leader of Albania, reportedly 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 a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the ex-American leader.
• A electronic pad from the Ukrainian president.
• Artworks from Moldova.
• Additional objects including cosmetics, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Maybe the most unusual gifts included the Milei figurine and the exotic footwear," reports suggest.

Political Context

The prime minister has received praise, mainly from her own political sphere, with garnering support from global statesmen and making Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.

This unique auction highlights a unconventional way to deal with the protocol gifts that are collected during a political career.