Biden Bowl, Any Takers? Meloni to Auction Off International Gifts for Good Cause
Getting rid of undesired presents might be viewed as somewhat rude – unless it's done the right way.
A Charitable Sale
Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, will offload an estimated 270 gifts given to her by foreign dignitaries while abroad. This unusual assortment reportedly features items such as a chainsaw-wielding statuette of Argentinian president Javier Milei and a pair of exotic blue snake-skin shoes with gilded heels.
The presents, collectively, are valued at around €800,000. The plan is to auctioned off to the highest bidder by a Rome-based auction firm. The specific date is yet to be set, although the intention is to hold the auction before Christmas, with the revenue donated to a selection of charitable causes.
Storage Room Collection
The items are said to be locked away in a storage room on the upper level of the prime minister's official office. Sources state that Meloni furthermore planning to auction off gifts received by her preceding prime ministers that have been gathering dust over a long period.
The full gift list remains disclosed, but partial details were revealed earlier this year when a detailed register of official presents was presented in parliament. The query focused on whether a legal value limit was being honored. By law, a prime minister is not permitted to keep presents exceeding €300.
A Global Assortment of Gifts
Among the items:
- A woven wrap from the Albanian prime minister, allegedly presented to Meloni for her birthday during a meeting abroad.
- A sari from Kerala from the Indian leader.
- A case of jewelry from the president of Slovakia.
- A porcelain tea set and six bottles of wine from the Hungarian prime minister.
- A pottery dish from the ex-American leader.
- A tablet from the Ukrainian president.
- Watercolour paintings from Moldova.
- An assortment including makeup, a board, and numerous carpets received during trips to Libya and other Arab nations.
"Possibly the most unusual gifts included the statuette from Milei and the exotic footwear," one might note.
Political Context
The prime minister has received praise, mainly from within her party, with building relationships with international counterparts and re-establishing Italy as a key protagonist on the global scene once again.
The forthcoming sale represents a unconventional way to manage the protocol gifts that build up during a time in office.