Milei Statuette, Any Takers? Italy's PM to Sell International Gifts for Charity
Getting rid of undesired offerings can be seen as slightly impolite – except if it's done the right way.
A Charitable Sale
The Italian premier, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction a reported 270 items bestowed upon her by international figures on official trips. The diverse haul is said to contain gifts including a miniature chainsaw-holding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.
The collection, combined, are worth an estimated €800,000. They will be sold via competitive bidding by a Italian fine art auction house. The specific date is yet to be set, although the goal is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with the proceeds going to non-profit organizations.
Storage Room Treasures
The presents reportedly kept in a secure area on the upper level of Palazzo Chigi. Reports indicate that Meloni is also considering auction off gifts given to her preceding prime ministers that have been gathering dust over a long period.
A complete inventory remains officially released, but partial details was gleaned earlier this year when an 11-page list of all declared gifts was reviewed by officials. The query raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being followed. By law, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents exceeding €300.
A Global Array of Gifts
The collection includes:
- A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
- A customary Indian garment from the Indian leader.
- A case of jewelry from the Slovakian president.
- A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader.
- A ceramic bowl from the ex-American leader.
- A electronic pad from the Ukrainian president.
- Paintings from Moldova.
- An assortment including makeup, a board, and several rugs received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.
"Perhaps the strangest gifts included the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," reports suggest.
Political Backdrop
The prime minister has received praise, mainly from her own political sphere, with garnering support from foreign leaders and re-establishing Italy as a significant player on the world stage once again.
This unique auction represents a unconventional way to manage the diplomatic artifacts that build up during a time in office.
