During his frequent trips overseas to meet high-ranking government officials, politicians, celebrities and business leaders, Javier Milei has received many unusual gifts – including, it can be revealed, some underwear.
Besides the protocol items presented as courtesy or at diplomatic events, the President has accepted a long list of other objects, including a chainsaw keyring, an anti-socialism mug and stickers against legalised abortion.
The information was provided by Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos in a recent report to Congress. Among the more than 2,000 responses he provided to lawmaker enquiries, number 1,762 stood out: a list of gifts Milei received on each of his 19 trips abroad since he was inaugurated as head of state last December.
According to government data, Mllei accepted gifts from fellow heads of state, institutions and even private citizens.
Most were protocol items, but a few unique items stand out – one of the most resounding was the pair of underwear gifted by a citizen during his trip to Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic in mid-June. He was also given a chainsaw keyring, a reference to his iconic campaign prop, by the same person.
Milei is obliged to register gifts under a special law which seeks to “ensure transparency” and “avoid conflicts of interest” for Argentina’s heads of state when travelling overseas.
The law stipulates that gifts must be recorded, and anything with a value of over 160,000 pesos (as of September 2024) must be added to state property.
Those of a lower value, and edible items, may be used or disposed of by the President without restrictions, provided that they are documented in the State Registry of Gifts to Public Officials.
This includes, for example, the present he received from Brazilian activist Renata Gallas, who gifted him with two stickers featuring slogans denouncing abortion.
Other striking presents included an oversized ceramic sculpture, a clock adorned with semi-precious stones and a collection of historical artefacts.
During his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (January 16-18, 2024), the President received a plush Saint Bernard toy dog and some Toblerone chocolate from a private citizen. During his official state visit to Israel (February 6-9, 2024), Milei was given an Argentine national team jersey.
Looking at gifts from world leaders, the La Libertad Avanza leader received a box of wine and a bottle of olive oil from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; in Paris, France, he received a bottle of Hennessy XO Cognac from French President Emmanuel Macron; and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala gave him a set of 12 glasses and a large glass made of Bohemian crystal.
There were also religious items, including a set of 14 medals of the Virgin Mary, gifted during Milei’s visit to the Vatican, and a football, Argentine national team jersey, World Cup pin and mini-trophy from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, presented during a trip to Los Angeles in May, 2024.
Other eye-catching items include a ceramic mug with the inscription “Socialism Kills” – gifted by a fan in Germany – and an appropriately named book from a Chilean supporter: La privatización de todo (“The privatisation of everything”).
– TIMES/PERFIL
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