🔗 Share this article

Passing on undesired offerings might be considered a little discourteous – except if it's done for a noble purpose.

A Philanthropic Auction

The Italian premier, Giorgia Meloni, will offload a reported 270 gifts given to her by foreign dignitaries during her travels. The diverse haul is said to contain gifts including a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of blue python skin shoes with gold heels.

The presents, collectively, have an approximate value of €800,000. They are scheduled to be put up for sale via competitive bidding by a Italian auction firm. The specific date remains to be announced, but the intention is to hold the auction by year's end, with the revenue benefiting various charities.

Palazzo Chigi Treasures

The presents reportedly locked away in a storage room on the third floor of Palazzo Chigi. Reports indicate that Meloni additionally intending to auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been sitting unused indefinitely.

A complete inventory is yet to be disclosed, but some insight was gleaned earlier this year when an 11-page list of all declared gifts was submitted to lawmakers. The question raised whether a legal value limit was being honored. According to regulation, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents exceeding €300.

A Global Assortment of Presents

The collection includes:

• A scarf from the leader of Albania, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A customary Indian garment from the Indian leader.
• A case of jewelry from the Slovakian president.
• A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader.
• A pottery dish from the ex-American leader.
• A electronic pad from the leader of Ukraine.
• Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
• Additional objects including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs from trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Maybe the most unusual gifts included the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," observers have said.

Political Backdrop

Meloni has been credited, mainly from her allies, with building relationships with foreign leaders and making Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.

This unique auction represents a unconventional way to handle the diplomatic artifacts that build up during a time in office.