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Getting rid of unwanted presents might be seen as slightly impolite – unless it's done the right way.

A Charitable Clear-Out

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell a reported 270 presents received by her by world leaders on official trips. The eclectic collection is said to contain items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels.

The collection, together, have an approximate value of €800,000. They will be auctioned off via competitive bidding by a Rome-based fine art auction house. The specific date has not been finalized, although the aim is to conduct the sale during the holiday season, with the proceeds benefiting non-profit organizations.

Storage Room Holdings

The items are said to be stored in a repository on the third floor of Palazzo Chigi. Reports indicate that Meloni furthermore intending to auction off gifts given to her predecessors that have been stored away indefinitely.

A complete inventory is yet to be disclosed, but partial details emerged earlier this year when a detailed register of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The query centered on whether a legal value limit was being respected. By law, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents exceeding €300.

An International Array of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A scarf from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A sari from Kerala from the Indian leader.
• A case of jewelry 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 digital device from the Ukrainian president.
• Artworks from the Moldovan government.
• Various other items including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Possibly the strangest gifts were the Milei figurine and the blue python skin shoes," observers have said.

Political Context

Supporters have applauded Meloni, mostly from her allies, with building relationships with global statesmen and re-establishing Italy as a significant player on the world stage once again.

This charitable initiative symbolizes a unconventional way to deal with the diplomatic artifacts that accumulate during a time in office.