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Getting rid of unwanted gifts might be considered a little discourteous – unless it's done in the proper manner.

A Charitable Auction

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction a reported 270 presents received by her by world leaders while abroad. The eclectic collection is said to contain items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels.

These items, together, are worth an estimated €800,000. The plan is to sold via competitive bidding by a Italian fine art auction house. An exact timeline is yet to be set, although the intention is to conduct the sale during the holiday season, with the revenue benefiting non-profit organizations.

Palazzo Chigi Treasures

The presents are said to be kept in a storage room on the third floor of the prime minister's official office. Sources state that Meloni furthermore considering auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been sitting unused indefinitely.

The full gift list has not yet been disclosed, but some insight emerged earlier this year when an 11-page list of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The question raised whether a legal value limit was being followed. By law, a prime minister cannot take home presents exceeding €300.

A Global Assortment of Presents

Notable gifts feature:

• 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 case of jewelry from the president of Slovakia.
• A fine china tea service and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the former US president.
• A electronic pad from the Ukrainian president.
• Watercolour paintings from the Moldovan government.
• Various other items including cosmetics, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

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

Political Context

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from her own political sphere, with building relationships with international counterparts and re-establishing Italy as a significant player on the international platform once again.

The forthcoming sale symbolizes a unconventional way to deal with the diplomatic artifacts that accumulate during a time in office.