Sammarinese parliamentary election, 2008

A parliamentary election will be held in San Marino on 9 November 2008.

In June 2008, due to disagreements within the coalition partners, the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD), Popular Alliance (AP) and United Left (SU), AP exited from the government and the government fell down. [http://www.sanmarinortv.sm/politica/default.asp?id=32&id_n=26357&Pagina=33] The PSD tried to form the "government of 31" (because it was supported by only 31 members of the Grand and General Council out of 60) with SU and Sammarinese for Freedom (SpL) [http://www.sanmarinortv.sm/politica/default.asp?id=32&id_n=26816&Pagina=27] , but two dissenting members of PSD left their party and formed Arengo and Freedom (AL), leaving the proposed government without the majority. [http://www.sanmarinortv.sm/politica/default.asp?id=32&id_n=27158&Pagina=22] [http://www.sanmarinortv.sm/politica/default.asp?id=32&id_n=28025&Pagina=10]

Due to the new electoral law passed earlier in 2008 which introduced a number of changes (an electoral threshold of 3.5%, coalitions, two-round elections and a majority premium for the winning coalition) [http://www.elezioni.sm/index.php?id=496] , parties will fight the election within two major coalitions: Pact for San Marino (centre-right) and Reforms and Freedom (centre-left). The early elections were held due to disagreements within the ruling government (which split along ideological lines into the two camps).

A poll in early October showed the centre-right leading with 45.6% to 30.6%, with 23.8% undecided or without answer. [http://www.sanmarinonotizie.com/default.asp?id=1&opr=5&content=19557&mnu=]

Coalitions and parties

Due to the new electoral law which resembles the Italian electoral system for Parliament, Sammarinese political parties are organized in two major coalitions:
*Pact for San Marino ("Patto per San Marino")
*Reforms and Freedom ("Riforme e Libertà")

Pact for San Marino

*Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party ("Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese")
**Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party ("Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese")
**Euro-Populars for San Marino ("Europopolari per San Marino")
**Arengo and Freedom ("Arengo e Libertà")
*Popular Alliance ("Alleanza Popolare")
*Freedom List ("Lista della Libertà")
**New Socialist Party ("Nuovo Partito Socialista")
**We Sammarinese ("Noi Sammarinesi")
*Sammarinese Union of Moderates ("Unione Sammarinese dei Moderati")
**Sammarinese Populars ("Popolari Sammarinesi")
**Sammarinese National Alliance ("Alleanza Nazionale Sammarinese")

Reforms and Freedom

*Party of Socialists and Democrats ("Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici")
**Party of Socialists and Democrats ("Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici")
**Sammarinese for Freedom ("Sammarinesi per la Libertà")
*United Left ("Sinistra Unita")
**Sammarinese Communist Refoundation ("Rifondazione Comunista Sammarinese")
**Left Party ("Partito della Sinistra")
*Centre Democrats ("Democratici di Centro")

References