| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Consiglio grande e generale / Great and General Council |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
9 November 2008 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Elections were held for all seats in the Great and General Council following the premature dissolution of this body on 5 August 2008. Elections had previously taken place in June 2006. |
Following the collapse of the coalition government in June 2008, the two Heads of State (Capitani Regenti, who also serve as Speakers of the Great and General Council), dissolved the parliament on 5 August and called early elections for 9 November.
In the previous elections held in June 2006, the Christian Democratic Party (PDCS) came in first with 21 seats. The Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD), which had advocated stronger ties with the European Union, won 20 seats. The PSD, the Popular Alliance (AP, which won seven seats) and United Left (SU, five seats) subsequently formed a coalition government controlling 32 seats in the 60-member Great and General Council. In March 2006, several PDCS members formed the Centre Democrats (DdC). A new coalition government comprising the PSD, the AP, the SU and the DdC was formed in November 2007.
In June 2008, the AP left the coalition government. The opposition of two PSD members blocked an attempt by the PSD to form a new coalition government with the SU and the San Marinese for Freedom (SpL, one seat). The political impasse in forming the new government triggered the dissolution of parliament and early elections.
In May 2007, an amendment to the electoral law introduced a threshold to win parliamentary representation (see note 1), which led some of the small parties to form coalitions in a bid to surpass the threshold. Further amendments to the electoral law in May 2008 obliged electoral coalitions to present the composition of their prospective government and programmes before polling day. Consequently, two new electoral coalitions were formed. The "Pact for San Marino" coalition comprised the PDCS-the Ael-the Euro-Populars for San Marino (EPS), the AP, the LDL and the USDM. The Coalition for "Reforms and Freedom" was composed of the PDS, the SU and DdC. In all, 300 candidates contested the 2008 elections.
The electoral law was again amended in August 2008 to give "bonus seats" to the coalition with the highest number of votes so that it would hold a minimum of 35 seats in the new legislature.
The "Pact for San Marino" coalition presented a programme entitled "The Republic that wants to change" and pledged to re-establish political stability and national cohesion. It promised to deepen relations with the European Union to further develop the country. It also promised to resolve double-taxation issues with Italy.
The Coalition for "Reforms and Freedom" pledged to provide "concrete and timely answers" to the problems that the country faced. It promised to come up with a new cooperation agreement with Italy on economic matters and cross-border workers. Its other programmes included tax cuts, benefits for the elderly and housewives, allocations for youth training and the promotion of equal opportunity for all citizens, including the disabled.
A total of 68.48 per cent of nearly 32,000 registered voters turned out at the polls.
The "Pact for San Marino" coalition won the elections, obtaining 35 seats in all, 22 of which went to the PDCS. The Coalition for "Reforms and Freedom" won the remainder, 18 of which went to the PDS. In all, nine women were elected, up from seven in the 2006 elections.
The newly elected Great and General Council held its first session on 18 November (see note 2).
Note 1:
The threshold to win parliamentary representation is determined by multiplying the number of lists participating in the elections by '0.4' (for instance, if there are six lists, the threshold will be 2.4 per cent). The maximum threshold is fixed at 3.5 per cent of the valid votes regardless of the number of lists.
Note 2:
The mandate of the two Heads of State (Capitani Regenti) - Mr. Ernesto Benedettini and Ms. Assunta Meloni - is not affected by the general elections and thus continues until 1 April 2009.
Note on the statistics:
Starting from the 2008 elections, voters may either vote for an election coalition or any party in the coalition. In all, 73 people voted for the "Pact for San Marino" coalition, while 65 people voted for the Coalition for "Reforms and Freedom". |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 9 November 2008 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
31'845
21'806 (68.48%)
834
20'972 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% of votes |
|
|
| Christian Democratic Party (PDCS) -Euro-Populars for San Marino (EPS) -Arengo and Freedom (Ael) |
|
6'692 |
|
|
31.91 |
|
|
| Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) |
|
6'702 |
|
|
31.96 |
|
|
| Popular Alliance (AP) |
|
2'415 |
|
|
11.52 |
|
|
| United Left (SU) |
|
1'797 |
|
|
8.57 |
|
|
| Freedom List (LDL) |
|
1'317 |
|
|
6.28 |
|
|
| Sammarinese Union of Moderates (USDM) |
|
874 |
|
|
4.17 |
|
|
| Centre Democrats (DdC) |
|
1'037 |
|
|
4.94 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total of seats
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Party (PDCS) -Euro-Populars for San Marino (EPS) -Arengo and Freedom (Ael) |
22
|
|
|
|
|
| Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) |
18
|
|
|
|
|
| Popular Alliance (AP) |
7
|
|
|
|
|
| United Left (SU) |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Freedom List (LDL) |
4
|
|
|
|
|
| Sammarinese Union of Moderates (USDM) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Centre Democrats (DdC) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
51
9
15.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
21 to 30 years
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
|
4
15
16
22
3
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- IPU Group (13.11.2008, 09.02.2009)
- http://www.elezioni2008.sm/ |
