🔗 Share this article

Passing on unneeded presents might be seen as somewhat rude – unless it's done in the proper manner.

A Charitable Auction

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell an estimated 270 gifts given to her by foreign dignitaries during her travels. The eclectic collection is said to contain objects like a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.

These items, combined, are valued at around €800,000. The plan is to sold in a public auction by a Rome-based fine art auction house. A date has not been finalized, but the aim is to conduct the sale by year's end, with the proceeds going to a selection of charitable causes.

Storage Room Holdings

The items are currently kept in a storage room on the upper level of Palazzo Chigi. Sources state that Meloni additionally considering auction off gifts received by her predecessors that have been stored away over a long period.

The detailed catalog remains made public, but a glimpse were revealed earlier this year when a detailed register of items received was reviewed by officials. The query raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being respected. By law, a prime minister cannot take home presents valued above €300.

An International Array of Presents

Among the items:

• A silk accessory from the leader of Albania, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A sari from Kerala from India's prime minister.
• A set of adornments from the president of Slovakia.
• A fine china tea service and a selection of wines from Hungary's leader.
• A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
• A tablet from the leader of Ukraine.
• Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
• Various other items including makeup, a board, and several rugs from trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Possibly the oddest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," observers have said.

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from her own political sphere, with garnering support from international counterparts and making Italy as a key protagonist on the international platform once again.

This unique auction highlights a novel approach to manage the diplomatic artifacts that accumulate during a time in office.