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Relinquishing unneeded gifts could be viewed as somewhat rude – except if it's done the right way.

A Charitable Auction

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell around 270 presents received by her by international figures while abroad. The diverse haul is said to contain objects like a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels.

These items, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. They are scheduled to be auctioned off in a public auction by a Italian art dealer. A date has not been finalized, although the goal is to conduct the sale before Christmas, with the revenue benefiting a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Collection

These gifts are said to be kept in a secure area on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. It has been reported that Meloni furthermore planning to auction off gifts given to her political forerunners that have been sitting unused over a long period.

A complete inventory is yet to be officially released, but some insight was gleaned earlier this year when an 11-page list of official presents was reviewed by officials. The question raised if a statutory cap on gift value was being honored. By law, a prime minister cannot take home presents valued above €300.

A Global Array of Presents

Notable gifts feature:

• A scarf from the leader of Albania, allegedly presented 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 fine china tea service and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the ex-American leader.
• A digital device from the Ukrainian president.
• Watercolour paintings from the Moldovan government.
• Additional objects including cosmetics, a board, and several rugs received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Possibly the most unusual gifts were the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," reports suggest.

Diplomatic Backdrop

Supporters have applauded Meloni, mainly from within her party, with winning over global statesmen and positioning Italy as a significant player on the global scene once again.

The forthcoming sale symbolizes a unconventional way to handle the protocol gifts that accumulate during a time in office.