🔗 Share this article

Getting rid of undesired presents can be considered a little discourteous – except if it's done for a noble purpose.

A Philanthropic Sale

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction a reported 270 gifts given to her by foreign dignitaries during her travels. This unusual assortment is said to contain items such as a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of blue python skin shoes with gilded heels.

These items, collectively, are valued at around €800,000. They are scheduled to be put up for sale to the highest bidder by a Rome-based fine art auction house. An exact timeline has not been finalized, although the intention is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with all funds raised benefiting non-profit organizations.

Storage Room Holdings

The items are said to be kept in a repository on the upper level of Palazzo Chigi. Reports indicate that Meloni is also planning to auction off gifts received by her political forerunners that have been gathering dust over a long period.

A complete inventory remains made public, but some insight emerged earlier this year when an 11-page list of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The discussion raised whether a rule restricting expensive presents was being honored. By law, a prime minister cannot take home presents exceeding €300.

An International Array of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A traditional Kerala dress from the Indian leader.
• A case of jewelry from the president of Slovakia.
• A fine china tea service and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader.
• A ceramic bowl from the former US president.
• A tablet from the leader of Ukraine.
• Paintings from Moldova.
• Various other items including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Perhaps the strangest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," one might note.

Political Context

Supporters have applauded Meloni, mostly from her own political sphere, with winning over global statesmen and re-establishing Italy as a key protagonist on the international platform once again.

This unique auction represents a unconventional way to handle the state presents that accumulate during a political career.