Milei Statuette, Any Takers? Italy's PM to Auction Off World Leaders' Gifts for Charity
Getting rid of undesired offerings could be viewed as slightly impolite – except if it's done for a noble purpose.
A Charitable Clear-Out
The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction around 270 items bestowed upon her by foreign dignitaries on official trips. This unusual assortment could include gifts including a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.
These items, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. The plan is to auctioned off to the highest bidder by a Rome-based art dealer. A date is yet to be set, but the aim is to conduct the sale during the holiday season, with all funds raised benefiting non-profit organizations.
Palazzo Chigi Collection
The items reportedly stored in a storage room on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. Sources state that Meloni additionally intending to auction off gifts received by her political forerunners that have been stored away over a long period.
The full gift list has not yet been made public, but a glimpse was gleaned earlier this year when a detailed register of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The discussion raised whether a legal value limit was being followed. Legally, a prime minister must declare presents worth more than €300.
An International Array of Gifts
Among the items:
- A silk accessory from the leader of Albania, allegedly given to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
- A customary Indian garment from the Indian leader.
- A box of jewellery from the president of Slovakia.
- A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader.
- A ceramic bowl from the former US president.
- A digital device from the leader of Ukraine.
- Paintings from the Moldovan government.
- Various other items including makeup, a skateboard, and several rugs from trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries.
"Maybe the most unusual gifts included the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," reports suggest.
Diplomatic Context
The prime minister has received praise, particularly from her allies, with building relationships with global statesmen and making Italy as a prominent force on the world stage once again.
The forthcoming sale represents a unconventional way to handle the protocol gifts that are collected during a time in office.
