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Passing on undesired gifts can be seen as somewhat rude – except if it's done the right way.

A Charitable Auction

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will offload an estimated 270 gifts given to 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 blue python skin shoes with gilded heels.

The collection, together, have an approximate value of €800,000. The plan is to auctioned off via competitive bidding by a Rome-based fine art auction house. A date has not been finalized, although the intention is to conduct the sale by year's end, with the revenue donated to a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Treasures

The items are currently stored in a storage room on the third floor of the prime minister's official office. Reports indicate that Meloni is also intending to auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been gathering dust over a long period.

The full gift list remains made public, but some insight emerged earlier this year when a detailed register of official presents was reviewed by officials. The query raised whether a statutory cap on gift value was being followed. Legally, a prime minister cannot take home presents exceeding €300.

A Global Array of Presents

The collection includes:

• A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A sari from Kerala from India's prime minister.
• A set of adornments from the president of Slovakia.
• A porcelain tea set and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the former US president.
• A tablet from the Ukrainian president.
• Paintings from Moldova.
• An assortment including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets from trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

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

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mainly from her allies, with building relationships with foreign leaders and making Italy as a significant player on the world stage once again.

The forthcoming sale highlights a unconventional way to manage the protocol gifts that build up during a time in office.