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Getting rid of unneeded offerings might be viewed as a little discourteous – except if it's done for a noble purpose.

A Philanthropic Sale

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction an estimated 270 presents received by her by international figures on official trips. The diverse haul is said to contain objects like a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.

The presents, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. They are scheduled to be sold via competitive bidding by a Italian auction firm. An exact timeline has not been finalized, but the goal is to hold the auction before Christmas, with all funds raised donated to various charities.

Storage Room Treasures

The items are currently stored in a secure area on the upper level of the government headquarters. Sources state that Meloni furthermore considering auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been stored away indefinitely.

A complete inventory is yet to be made public, but partial details was gleaned earlier this year when a detailed register of items received was reviewed by officials. The query centered on if a statutory cap on gift value was being respected. Legally, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents exceeding €300.

A Global Assortment of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A silk accessory from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly given 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 porcelain tea set and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the former US president.
• A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
• Paintings from Moldova.
• Additional objects including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Perhaps the oddest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," reports suggest.

Political Backdrop

Supporters have applauded Meloni, particularly from her allies, with building relationships with foreign leaders and positioning Italy as a prominent force on the world stage once again.

This unique auction represents a novel approach to deal with the protocol gifts that accumulate during a political career.