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Getting rid of unneeded offerings might be seen as a little discourteous – unless it's done the right way.

A Philanthropic Auction

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will offload an estimated 270 items bestowed upon her by world leaders during her travels. The eclectic collection could include items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels.

These items, together, are worth an estimated €800,000. The plan is to auctioned off to the highest bidder by a Rome-based auction firm. The specific date remains to be announced, although the goal is to hold the auction by year's end, with the revenue going to non-profit organizations.

Storage Room Collection

The presents are said to be stored in a secure area on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. Reports indicate that Meloni is also planning to auction off gifts given to her predecessors that have been sitting unused for years.

The full gift list has not yet been disclosed, but a glimpse was gleaned earlier this year when a detailed register of all declared gifts was submitted to lawmakers. The question raised if a legal value limit was being respected. According to regulation, a prime minister cannot take home presents valued above €300.

A Global Assortment of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A woven wrap from the leader of Albania, allegedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A traditional Kerala dress from the Indian leader.
• A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president.
• A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the former US president.
• A electronic pad from the leader of Ukraine.
• Paintings from the Moldovan government.
• An assortment including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs from trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Perhaps the most unusual gifts included the Milei figurine and the blue python skin shoes," observers have said.

Political Context

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from her allies, with garnering support from international counterparts and positioning Italy as a prominent force on the world stage once again.

The forthcoming sale represents a unconventional way to handle the state presents that are collected during a political career.