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Passing on unwanted gifts could be considered a little discourteous – except if it's done the right way.

A Philanthropic Auction

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction an estimated 270 gifts given to her by international figures during her travels. This unusual assortment reportedly features gifts including 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. They will be sold via competitive bidding by a Italian auction firm. An exact timeline remains to be announced, although the intention is to hold the auction by year's end, with the revenue benefiting a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Collection

The presents are said to be locked away in a repository on the third floor of the government headquarters. Reports indicate that Meloni is also considering auction off gifts given to her predecessors that have been gathering dust indefinitely.

A complete inventory remains made public, but partial details was gleaned earlier this year when a comprehensive document of official presents was submitted to lawmakers. The question raised if a statutory cap on gift value was being followed. According to regulation, a prime minister cannot take home presents exceeding €300.

An International Assortment of Presents

Notable gifts feature:

• A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, reportedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
• A traditional Kerala dress from India's prime minister.
• A set of adornments from the Slovakian president.
• A fine china tea service and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A ceramic bowl from the former US president.
• A digital device from the Ukrainian president.
• Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
• Additional objects including cosmetics, a skateboard, and several rugs received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.

"Perhaps the most unusual gifts were the Milei figurine and the blue python skin shoes," one might note.

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mostly from within her party, with garnering support from foreign leaders and positioning Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.

This charitable initiative represents a unconventional way to deal with the state presents that build up during a leader's tenure.