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History and Government
History: San Marino is the only surviving Italian city-state. Like Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco, it is an anachronism, a reminder of the times when Europe – particularly Germany, Italy and the Pyrenees – was made up of tiny political units, often extending no further than a cannon could fire from a city’s walls. Of all the small European countries, San Marino’s survival is the most surprising. Apart from the Vatican City (whose development followed a different course), it is the only one that is completely surrounded by one other country. Various treaties of friendship have been signed with Italy since the latter’s unification, but San Marino proudly asserts its independence where possible.
Having joined the Council of Europe as a full member in 1988, San Marino held the chair of the organisation during the first half of 1990. Domestically, San Marino has evolved a pluralistic system of government similar to that in Italy. The major political parties are the Progressive Democrats (ex-communists), Socialists, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and the leftist Partito Socialista Unitario. Like their Italian counterparts, the communists decided to change their title soon after the collapse of communist rule in Eastern Europe. For two years in the early 1990s, San Marino was governed by an alliance of the ex-communist Progressive Democrats and the centre-right Christian Democrats. In 1992, the Christian Democrats decided that that alliance was ‘outdated’ and forged a deal with the Socialists (which is, despite its name, an essentially centre-right party). This move created the coalition which has ruled San Marino ever since. The three general elections which have taken place since then (1993, 1998 and 2001) have consistently returned the Christian Democrats as the largest party (albeit short of an overall majority) along with enough Socialists to make up the shortfall. The coalition has thus survived for a decade.
Government: Legislative power is vested in the Consiglio Grande e Generale (Great and General Council) which has 60 members elected by universal adult suffrage for five-year terms. The country is divided into nine ‘Castles’, representing the nine original parishes. Each is governed by a ‘Castle-Captain’, who holds office for two years. Two ‘Captain-Regents’, elected by the Council for six-month terms, act as joint heads of state.
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