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Passing on unwanted gifts could be seen as somewhat rude – unless it's done for a noble purpose.

A Philanthropic Clear-Out

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will offload an estimated 270 presents received by her by international figures on official trips. The eclectic collection could include 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, collectively, are valued at around €800,000. They are scheduled to be auctioned off to the highest bidder by a Italian art dealer. An exact timeline remains to be announced, although the intention is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with the revenue donated to non-profit organizations.

Storage Room Holdings

These gifts are currently locked away in a storage room on the third floor of the prime minister's official office. Sources state that Meloni furthermore intending to auction off gifts given to her predecessors that have been stored away for years.

A complete inventory remains disclosed, but some insight was gleaned earlier this year when an 11-page list of official presents was reviewed by officials. The question focused on if a rule restricting expensive presents was being honored. By law, a prime minister must declare presents valued above €300.

A Global Array of Gifts

The collection includes:

• A silk accessory from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly presented 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 porcelain tea set and a selection of wines from Hungary's leader.
• A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
• A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
• Artworks from the Moldovan government.
• Various other items including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs from trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Maybe the strangest gifts were the Milei figurine and the exotic footwear," observers have said.

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from her allies, with garnering support from global statesmen and re-establishing Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.

This charitable initiative highlights a unconventional way to manage the protocol gifts that accumulate during a political career.