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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
San Marino: History
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Background Notes: San Marino
History
</hdr>
<body>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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."
</p>
<p>Current Political Conditions
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p> 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.
</p>
<p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs,
November 1987.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>