In an unusual move blending diplomacy with philanthropy, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to auction off an extensive collection of presents bestowed upon her by global counterparts. The charity sale, expected to raise an estimated €800,000 (approximately £700,000), features a remarkable array of 270 gifts, from a chainsaw-brandishing figurine of Argentina's President Javier Milei to a ceramic bowl from former US President Joe Biden.
The High-Value Haul: From Python Shoes to Presidential Presents
The eclectic assortment, currently stored in a dedicated room on the third floor of the Italian prime minister's office, Palazzo Chigi, reads like an inventory of international statecraft and peculiar souvenirs. According to reports from Il Foglio, the collection's total value far exceeds the €300 legal limit a prime minister is permitted to keep personally, prompting the charitable disposal.
Rome's Bertolami Fine Art auction house has been tasked with conducting the sale, with organisers aiming for a pre-Christmas event. The proceeds will be directed to various charitable causes. Notably, the auction will also include long-forgotten gifts received by Meloni's predecessors, which have been gathering dust in the same storage facility for years.
A Glimpse into the Gift Registry
While the full catalogue remains under wraps, details emerged in April when centrist politician Francesco Bonifazi presented an 11-page list of declared gifts to parliament. The document revealed a fascinating snapshot of diplomatic exchanges.
Among the standout items is the chainsaw-wielding statuette of libertarian President Javier Milei, a nod to his dramatic, cost-cutting political rhetoric. Equally eye-catching are a pair of blue python skin shoes with gold heels, a gift from Kamel Al-Munajjed of the Saudi Italian Business Council.
The list further includes:
- A traditional Kerala dress from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, received at the 2022 G20 summit in Bali.
- A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from Hungary's Viktor Orbán.
- A box of jewellery from Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini.
- A tablet from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- A scarf from Albanian PM Edi Rama, presented on his knees to Meloni for her 46th birthday in Abu Dhabi.
Other gifts range from watercolour paintings from Moldova and makeup to a skateboard and an assortment of 15 carpets from trips to Libya and other Arab nations.
Political Protocol and Charitable Intentions
The auction elegantly navigates the strict rules governing the acceptance of high-value gifts by public officials. By channelling the items to a public sale for charity, Meloni adheres to ethical standards while generating positive social impact. The move has been praised within her own Brothers of Italy party as emblematic of her approach to foreign policy, which they credit with re-establishing Italy as a key player on the world stage.
This grand clearance of the Palazzo Chigi gift room not only clears bureaucratic clutter but transforms symbolic gestures of international diplomacy into tangible benefits for charitable organisations, setting a notable precedent for the disposal of state gifts.
