San Marino

A

Currency

The monetary unit of San Marino was formerly the Italian lira, but in line with Italy’s adoption of the new Euro currency in 2002, San Marino followed suit. As at early 2009, 0.76 Euros equalled US$1.

B

Commerce and Trade

In 1995 annual government revenue and expenditure were balanced at about US$320 million. Wheat, barley, maize, olives, wine, and livestock and dairy products dominate agricultural output. The sale of postage stamps is a significant source of government revenue, but exports of building materials, formerly an important source of export earnings, have ceased with the exhaustion of the quarries on Mount Titano.

C

Communications

The two most popular daily newspapers in San Marino are La Tribuna Sammarinese and San Marino Oggi. The state-run San Marino RTV runs radio and television broadcasts in the country. There is also a privately run radio station.

IV

Government

San Marino is governed by the Great and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale), a legislative body of 60 members elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years. Two members of the council, called captains-regent, are elected for six months to preside over the country’s executive body, the 10-member Congress of State.

A

Political Parties

The biggest parties in San Marino are the Sanmarinese Christian Democratic Party (PDCS; Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese) and the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD; Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici). In 2006 the PDCS won 21 seats and the PSD 20, leading to a coalition government as is the norm in San Marino.