Milei Statuette, Any Takers? Italy's PM to Auction Off World Leaders' Gifts for Charity
Passing on unneeded presents could be seen as slightly impolite – except if it's done for a noble purpose.
A Philanthropic Sale
The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will offload around 270 presents received by her by international figures during her travels. The eclectic collection is said to contain objects like a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.
These items, together, are valued at around €800,000. The plan is to sold in a public auction by a Rome-based auction firm. The specific date is yet to be set, although the goal is to conduct the sale by year's end, with the revenue benefiting non-profit organizations.
Palazzo Chigi Collection
These gifts are currently locked away in a repository on the third floor of Palazzo Chigi. It has been reported that Meloni additionally considering auction off gifts received by her predecessors that have been stored away for years.
The full gift list remains disclosed, but partial details emerged earlier this year when an 11-page list of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The discussion raised whether a statutory cap on gift value was being followed. By law, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents worth more than €300.
A Global Assortment of Presents
The collection includes:
- A scarf from the leader of Albania, allegedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
- A sari from Kerala from the Indian leader.
- A set of adornments from the president of Slovakia.
- A fine china tea service and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
- A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
- A tablet from the Ukrainian president.
- Paintings from Moldova.
- An assortment including cosmetics, a skateboard, and numerous carpets received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.
"Perhaps the most unusual gifts were the statuette from Milei and the blue python skin shoes," one might note.
Diplomatic Backdrop
The prime minister has received praise, particularly from within her party, with winning over foreign leaders and re-establishing Italy as a key protagonist on the world stage once again.
This charitable initiative represents a distinct method to deal with the protocol gifts that build up during a time in office.
