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Relinquishing undesired gifts could be considered slightly impolite – unless it's done the right way.

A Philanthropic Auction

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, will offload an estimated 270 gifts given to her by world leaders while abroad. The diverse haul could include gifts including a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentina's leader 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 Italian auction firm. A date remains to be announced, but the goal is to hold the auction by year's end, with the proceeds benefiting non-profit organizations.

Palazzo Chigi Treasures

These gifts are currently locked away in a repository on the third floor of the prime minister's official office. Reports indicate that Meloni furthermore considering auction off gifts given to her preceding prime ministers that have been stored away for years.

A complete inventory has not yet been officially released, but partial details were revealed earlier this year when a detailed register of official presents was presented in parliament. The query centered on if a rule restricting expensive presents was being respected. According to regulation, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents worth more than €300.

An International Array of Presents

Notable gifts feature:

• A woven wrap from the leader of Albania, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A sari from Kerala from India's prime minister.
• A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president.
• A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
• A tablet from the leader of Ukraine.
• Artworks from the Moldovan government.
• Additional objects including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Possibly the strangest gifts included the Milei figurine and the blue python skin shoes," reports suggest.

Political Backdrop

Meloni has been credited, mostly from her allies, with building relationships with global statesmen and re-establishing Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.

The forthcoming sale highlights a distinct method to handle the protocol gifts that accumulate during a political career.