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Relinquishing unwanted presents might be considered slightly impolite – unless it's done for a noble purpose.

A Charitable Auction

The Italian premier, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction around 270 presents received by her by international figures on official trips. The eclectic collection reportedly features gifts including a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.

These items, collectively, are valued at around €800,000. They will be auctioned off to the highest bidder by a Rome-based fine art auction house. The specific date is yet to be set, although the intention is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with all funds raised going to non-profit organizations.

Palazzo Chigi Holdings

These gifts are currently locked away in a storage room on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. Reports indicate that Meloni additionally considering auction off gifts received by her predecessors that have been gathering dust for years.

The detailed catalog remains made public, but a glimpse were revealed earlier this year when an 11-page list of items received was presented in parliament. The discussion centered on if a legal value limit was being honored. According to regulation, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents worth more than €300.

An International Array of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A scarf from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A customary Indian garment from the Indian leader.
• A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president.
• A fine china tea service and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the former US president.
• A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
• Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
• Various other items including cosmetics, a skateboard, and numerous carpets from trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Maybe the strangest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," one might note.

Political Backdrop

Supporters have applauded Meloni, particularly from her own political sphere, with garnering support from foreign leaders and positioning Italy as a key protagonist on the global scene once again.

This unique auction represents a novel approach to handle the state presents that build up during a time in office.