🔗 Share this article Milei Statuette, Anyone? Meloni to Auction Off World Leaders' Gifts for Charity Passing on undesired offerings could be viewed as a little discourteous – unless it's done for a noble purpose. A Charitable Clear-Out The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction an estimated 270 items bestowed upon her by foreign dignitaries during her travels. The eclectic collection is said to contain items such as 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 put up for sale to the highest bidder by a Italian fine art auction house. An exact timeline has not been finalized, although the goal is to hold the auction before Christmas, with the revenue benefiting non-profit organizations. Storage Room Holdings The presents reportedly locked away in a storage room on the upper level of Palazzo Chigi. Sources state that Meloni is also planning to auction off gifts given to her political forerunners that have been gathering dust indefinitely. The full gift list remains made public, but a glimpse were revealed earlier this year when a detailed register of all declared gifts was presented in parliament. The discussion raised if a rule restricting expensive presents was being followed. According to regulation, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents valued above €300. An International Array of Presents Among the items: A woven wrap 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 porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader. A pottery dish from the former US president. A tablet from the leader of Ukraine. Paintings from the Moldovan government. An assortment including makeup, a board, and several rugs received during trips to North African and Middle Eastern countries. "Maybe the oddest gifts were the Milei figurine and the blue python skin shoes," observers have said. Diplomatic Backdrop Supporters have applauded Meloni, particularly from within her party, with winning over global statesmen and making Italy as a significant player on the international platform once again. This charitable initiative represents a novel approach to manage the state presents that are collected during a time in office.