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Getting rid of undesired gifts can be considered somewhat rude – unless it's done for a noble purpose.

A Charitable Sale

The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, is set to sell a reported 270 gifts given to her by foreign dignitaries during her travels. This unusual assortment is said to contain gifts including a miniature chainsaw-holding 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 will be auctioned off via competitive bidding by a Italian auction firm. The specific date remains to be announced, although the aim is to hold the auction by year's end, with the proceeds benefiting a selection of charitable causes.

Palazzo Chigi Collection

The presents reportedly locked away in a repository on the upper level of Palazzo Chigi. Sources state that Meloni furthermore planning to auction off gifts given to her preceding prime ministers that have been sitting unused for years.

The full gift list remains disclosed, but a glimpse were revealed earlier this year when a detailed register of items received was reviewed by officials. The question raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being followed. According to regulation, a prime minister must declare presents valued above €300.

An International Array of Gifts

Among the items:

• A scarf 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 Slovakian president.
• A porcelain tea set and a selection of wines from the Hungarian prime minister.
• A pottery dish from the former US president.
• A digital device from the Ukrainian president.
• Artworks from Moldova.
• An assortment including cosmetics, a board, and several rugs received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.

"Possibly the strangest gifts included the Milei figurine and the exotic footwear," observers have said.

Diplomatic Backdrop

The prime minister has received praise, mainly from her own political sphere, with winning over foreign leaders and making Italy as a prominent force on the global scene once again.

This charitable initiative symbolizes a distinct method to manage the state presents that build up during a leader's tenure.