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Relinquishing unneeded presents can be viewed as somewhat rude – unless it's done for a noble purpose.

A Charitable Auction

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction a reported 270 items bestowed upon her by foreign dignitaries while abroad. This unusual assortment reportedly features items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of blue python skin shoes with gilded heels.

These items, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. They will be put up for sale via competitive bidding by a Rome-based art dealer. A date remains to be announced, but the intention is to hold the auction before Christmas, with all funds raised benefiting a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Holdings

These gifts are currently locked away in a storage room on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. Sources state that Meloni additionally intending to auction off gifts received by her political forerunners that have been sitting unused indefinitely.

The detailed catalog remains disclosed, but some insight were revealed earlier this year when a comprehensive document of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The query centered on whether a legal value limit was being followed. According to regulation, a prime minister must declare presents valued above €300.

A Global Assortment of Presents

The collection includes:

• A woven wrap from the leader of Albania, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A sari from Kerala from the Indian leader.
• A box of jewellery from the president of Slovakia.
• A fine china tea service and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
• A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
• Paintings from the Moldovan government.
• An assortment including makeup, a board, and several rugs received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Perhaps the oddest gifts included the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," one might note.

Diplomatic Context

The prime minister has received praise, mainly from her own political sphere, with winning over international counterparts and positioning Italy as a prominent force on the world stage once again.

This unique auction represents a unconventional way to deal with the protocol gifts that are collected during a time in office.