🔗 Share this article Ceramic Gift, Any Takers? Italy's PM to Sell International Gifts for Charity Relinquishing undesired presents might be seen as a little discourteous – unless it's done the right way. A Charitable Sale Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell a reported 270 gifts given to her by world leaders during her travels. The diverse haul 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, combined, have an approximate value of €800,000. They are scheduled to be put up for sale in a public auction by a Italian auction firm. A date is yet to be set, although the goal is to conduct the sale during the holiday season, with the revenue benefiting various charities. Palazzo Chigi Holdings The presents are currently locked away in a repository on the third floor of the government headquarters. It has been reported that Meloni is also planning to auction off gifts given to her predecessors that have been sitting unused indefinitely. A complete inventory has not yet been made public, but a glimpse emerged earlier this year when a comprehensive document of all declared gifts was presented in parliament. The discussion raised whether a statutory cap on gift value was being respected. According to regulation, a prime minister must declare presents exceeding €300. An International Array of Presents The collection includes: A silk accessory from the leader of Albania, allegedly presented 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 six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader. A pottery dish from the former US president. A tablet from the leader of Ukraine. Watercolour paintings from Moldova. Various other items including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries. "Maybe the strangest gifts were the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," observers have said. Political Context Supporters have applauded Meloni, particularly from her own political sphere, with winning over global statesmen and positioning Italy as a significant player on the global scene once again. The forthcoming sale symbolizes a unconventional way to deal with the diplomatic artifacts that accumulate during a leader's tenure.