🔗 Share this article Biden Bowl, Anyone? Italy's PM to Auction Off World Leaders' Gifts for Good Cause Passing on undesired presents could be considered a little discourteous – except if it's done in the proper manner. A Charitable Auction The leader of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, plans to auction around 270 items bestowed upon her by international figures on official trips. The eclectic collection reportedly features gifts including a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentina's leader Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gold heels. The presents, collectively, are worth an estimated €800,000. They are scheduled to be put up for sale to the highest bidder by a Rome-based art dealer. A date remains to be announced, but the intention is to hold the auction during the holiday season, with the proceeds going to non-profit organizations. Palazzo Chigi Holdings The presents reportedly kept in a storage room on the third floor of Palazzo Chigi. Reports indicate that Meloni is also intending to auction off gifts received by her political forerunners that have been sitting unused for years. The full gift list is yet to be disclosed, but partial details were revealed earlier this year when an 11-page list of items received was submitted to lawmakers. The question raised whether a legal value limit was being followed. Legally, a prime minister must declare presents exceeding €300. An International Assortment of Presents Among the items: A scarf from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad. A traditional Kerala dress from the Indian leader. A box of jewellery from the Slovakian president. A fine china tea service and six bottles of wine from Hungary's leader. A ceramic bowl from the former US president. A electronic pad from the Ukrainian president. Artworks from the Moldovan government. Various other items including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets from trips to Libya and other Arab nations. "Maybe the oddest gifts included the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," observers have said. Political Backdrop The prime minister has received praise, mainly from within her party, with building relationships with global statesmen and positioning Italy as a key protagonist on the international platform once again. This unique auction symbolizes a unconventional way to deal with the state presents that are collected during a political career.