According to local tradition, San Marino was founded by a Christian stonecutter named Marinus in the fourth century A.D. as a refuge against religious persecution. Its recorded history does not begin until the ninth century when, according to documentary evidence, a monastery existed there. A community grew up around the monastic house and gradually acquired the institutions of a small state. Various assaults on its independence by the papacy, the Malatesta lords of Rimini, Cesare Borgia, Napoleon, and Mussolini all failed.
In 1862, San Marino concluded a basic treaty, which has been renewed periodically, with the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. The current agreements is an amendment, concluded in September 1971, to the 1939 treaty. The amended version eliminated reference to the "protective friendship" of Italy in the 1939 treaty and states instead: The Republic of San Marino confirms its neutrality and is certain that the warm friendship and deep cooperation of the Italian Republic, for the preservation of San Marino's ancient liberty and independence, will never fail. For this purpose the government of Italy and San Marino will consult regularly on problems of common interest." Since 1971 several amendments have been agreed upon by both parties. The most recent and important, effected January 8, 1987, gave San Marino the right to establish with an Italian Government loan its own television station (under the guidance of the Italian national network) and reinstated its right to operate a casino. It also approves negotiations to grant San Marino banks authorization to conduct financial operations directly with foreign banks rather than through the Bank of Italy as is currently required.
Shortly after World War II, a communist-socialist coalition obtained control of the Sammarinese Government. This regime remained in power until 1957, when, because of defections from the socialist ranks, it lost its majority to the opposition forces of the Popular Alliance (primarily Christian Democrats and Social Democrats). Refusing to accept defeat, the communist-led coalition attempted to retain control of the government. The Popular Alliance formed a rival government, which Italy soon recognized, and several weeks later the communists capitulated. The Popular Alliance gained clear majorities in the general elections of 1959, 1964, and 1969.
In March 1973, the Christian Democrats broke with their Social Democratic partners and formed a new government in coalition with the socialists and the Movement for Statutory Liberty (MSL). In 1978, the Socialists withdrew from the coalition to enter into a new leftist alliance with the Communist Party (PCS). This ended in June 1986, when the current government was formed by a coalition between the Christian Democrats (CDS) and the PCS--the "historic compromise."
Current Political Conditions
San Marino's policies are inextricably tied to Italy's, and consequently, political organizations and labor unions active in Italy are also active in San Marino.
The postwar period has been characterized by the often intense rivalry of two political coalitions: the Popular Alliance, composed of the Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party (CDS) and the Sammarinese Independent Social Democratic Party (PSDIS); and the Liberty Committee, a coalition of the Sammarinese Communist Party (PCS) and the Sammarinese Socialist Party (PSS). Each of these parties receives support from its counterpart in Italy.
The communist-dominated Liberty Committee controlled the government for 12 years after World War II but generally did not attempt to muzzle the opposition. It received a substantial annual subsidy from the Soviet Union but could point to only a few solid accomplishments--a 10% increase in the proportion of produce retained by sharecroppers, free medical care, and a public works program to alleviate the republics economic difficulties following the closing of its casino.
The brutal Soviet suppression of the Hungarian revolt in 1956 created dissension in the ranks of the PSS, and the number of defections by September 1957 was sufficient to permit the Popular Alliance to claim a majority of the members of the Great and General Council. Armed bands of Liberty Committee supporters occupied government buildings in an effort to nullify this action, but a show of force by the Italian Government brought about their rapid capitulation without bloodshed.
The Popular Alliance called for new parliamentary elections in 1959 and won a stunning victory. In the 1964 election the Popular Alliance won again, and the Liberty Committee lost three seats.
After 15 years as part of the opposition, in March 1973, the socialists entered a coalition government with the Christian Democrats and the Movement for Statutory Liberty, a small leftist group; the Social Democrats moved into the opposition for the first time since 1957.
The Socialist Party withdrew its support from this government in November 1977, causing it to fall, and elections were held in June 1978. Although the CDS increased its votes and its strength in the parliament, a new coalition government was formed by the PCS, the PSS, and the Unitary Socialists (PSU). The May 1983 general elections reconfirmed this governing coalition with the following distribution of seats: CDS 26; PCS 15; PSS 9; PSU 8; Social Democrats 1; and Republicans 1. In June 1986, the PCS withdrew from the government because of alleged involvement by members of both the PSS and the PSU in financial scandals. On July 26, 1986, the CDS and the PCS formally entered into a governing coalition. Each party received 5 of the 10 cabinet posts, even though the CDS has 26 parliamentary seats and the PCS only 15. (Other seats: PSS 9; PSU 8; Social Democrats 1; and Republicans 1.) The next general election will be held in 1988.
The position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is presently held by a Christian Democrat and that of Secretary of State for Internal Affairs by a communist.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, November 1987.