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Relinquishing unneeded gifts could be seen as slightly impolite – except if it's done for a noble purpose.

A Charitable Sale

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction around 270 gifts given to her by international figures during her travels. The eclectic collection could include items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of blue python skin shoes with gilded heels.

These items, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. The plan is to put up for sale in a public auction by a Rome-based art dealer. A date has not been finalized, although the intention is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with all funds raised donated to various charities.

Storage Room Collection

The presents reportedly locked away in a storage room on the third floor of the government headquarters. It has been reported that Meloni additionally intending to auction off gifts received by her political forerunners that have been gathering dust over a long period.

A complete inventory has not yet been officially released, but partial details was gleaned earlier this year when a comprehensive document of all declared gifts was presented in parliament. The discussion raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being followed. Legally, a prime minister must declare presents valued above €300.

A Global Assortment of Presents

Notable gifts feature:

• A scarf from the leader of Albania, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A customary Indian garment from India's prime minister.
• A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president.
• A porcelain tea set 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.
• Artworks from Moldova.
• An assortment including makeup, a board, and several rugs from trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

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

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from within her party, with winning over foreign leaders and positioning Italy as a key protagonist on the international platform once again.

This charitable initiative symbolizes a novel approach to deal with the protocol gifts that accumulate during a time in office.