Greek politician Stefanos Kasselakis appeared on the Star Channel auction show Cash or Trash on Monday afternoon to sell his mother's family silverware for charity.
The leader of the Democrats party raised a total of 2,000 euros for Gine Anthropos, a Greek non-profit organisation that provides support to victims of gender-based violence and mothers who have lost children to femicide.
Show presenter Despina Moiraraki welcomed Kasselakis by stating that he was a guest who had shaken up the political scene a few years earlier, thanking him for attending. In response, Kasselakis joked that he had been planted by the CIA.
Kasselakis explained that his motive for taking part in the show was to support women experiencing gender violence and mothers grieving children killed in femicides.
During the broadcast, Moiraraki shared a personal account of surviving severe abuse during her first marriage, expressing her strong support for the charity's mission. Kasselakis told the host that he felt proud of her for speaking out.
Appraisal of the Silverware
The items presented for auction included a silver-plated milk jug and sugar bowl crafted by British luxury house Mappin & Webb, along with a wine and champagne accessory made by French manufacturer Christofle.
Show appraiser Thanos Loudos explained the background of the items, noting that Mappin & Webb was founded in Sheffield during the 18th century and has held a royal warrant to care for the British royal family's jewels since 1897.
Loudos clarified that because the items were silver-plated rather than solid silver, they lacked high intrinsic metal value. He evaluated the set at 1,000 euros but noted that Kasselakis's celebrity status made the items highly marketable and likely to fetch a higher price. Hearing the estimate, Kasselakis remarked that he would force the prospective buyers to reach deep into their pockets.
Auction and Bidding
The unexpected appearance of the politician surprised the studio buyers. During introductions, buyer Nadia Bele mentioned that she and Kasselakis share the same birthday.
Bidding opened at 200 euros, drawing initial disappointment from Kasselakis. However, several buyers indicated early in the segment that they intended to donate personal funds to Gine Anthropos regardless of the final sale price.
Describing himself as a tough negotiator acting on behalf of all Greek citizens, Kasselakis pushed for higher offers. Buyer Anna Maria Rogdaki submitted the winning bid of 300 euros for the silverware set.
To maximize the charitable yield, Kasselakis asked three participating buyers who had offered additional donations to contribute an extra 50 euros each to seal the agreement. All three buyers agreed to his request.
The additional buyer pledges generated 700 euros, which combined with Rogdaki's 300 euro winning bid to reach 1,000 euros from the studio. Kasselakis matched the amount by contributing 1,000 euros of his own money, bringing the final donation for Gine Anthropos to 2,000 euros.
Background on the Participants
Stefanos Kasselakis is a Greek political figure who previously led the main opposition party SYRIZA before forming the Democrats party. Cash or Trash is a popular Greek reality television show hosted by businesswoman and rug merchant Despina Moiraraki on Star Channel, where guest participants bring antiques and collectibles to be evaluated by experts and auctioned to professional antique dealers.
