This update covers developments related to the freedoms of expression and assembly in San Marino from 21st August 2025 to 17th February 2026.
GENERAL
San Marino recognises the State of Palestine
On 23rd September 2025, San Marino officially recognised the State of Palestine, joining a growing group of nations. During the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Luca Beccari, Minister for Foreign Affairs of San Marino, officially communicated this decision to the international community.
Movement becomes political party
On 31st January 2026, the movement Ēlego announced that it was transforming into a political party. Created in 2019 by a group of citizens, its members had participated in previous elections by joining other formations. In 2026, it became the “Sammarinese Socialist Reformist Party”.
Association asks for debate on end-of-life care
On 19th December 2025, a draft bill on “Advancing provisions for health treatment and decision-making in the treatment of debilitating diseases and end-of-life care” was filed by the Emma Rossi Association. The proposed law aims to respond to the expectation expressed by many citizens regarding the possibility of having their wishes established in advance regarding health treatments. It will be discussed in the Grand and General Council.
EXPRESSION
Screening of docufilm not authorised by Gendarmerie due to geopolitical concerns
In January 2026, the Gendarmerie did not authorise the screening of the Russian movie “Biolab, the biological war”. Produced by the broadcaster Russia Today, the docufilm suggests that Ukraine would house research centres funded by the United States to develop biological weapons. Groups of supporters have promoted screenings in Italy and San Marino. Organisers asked for authorisation to screen it on 7th February 2026 to the Gendarmerie. The Gendarmerie refused.
The organiser, Niccolò Verdolini, head of the Occhio alla Storia channel, denounced “a very serious act of preventive censorship”.
The State Secretariat for Foreign Affairs rejects the accusations of censorship and expressed the view that the non-authorisation “does not respond to censorship logics, but to the strict fulfillment of international and internal obligations, as well as to the protection of the institutional prestige of San Marino”. The State Sceretariat insisted that it did not want the country to “lend itself to being used as a platform for the dissemination of messages that fuel international tensions, nor does it want its name to be approached with circuits that operate in open contrast with the European safety and cooperation directives” and that the country’s image and perception abroad was the priority.
ASSEMBLY
General strikes against reform of the General Income Tax
On 23rd September 2025, a large number of people participated in a protest against a general income tax (Imposta Generale sui Redditi) reform proposal. Three trade unions organised the protest (CDLS, CSDL and USL) against a revision of the general income tax they label as “unfair, discriminatory and penalising”. According to them, the proposal penalises thousands of Italian frontier workers and those with low incomes. About 10,000 people participated, including residents, border workers, and pensioners, making it the largest protest of the decade.
On 7th October 2025, around 8,000 people demonstrated again against the proposed IGR tax reform and on 18th October 2025, a smaller protest took place at the Palazzo Begni while the unions negotiated with the majority.
The mobilisation ended as the majority agreed with unions on a package of amendments. One of the amendment concerns the deductibility of donations to the Church and to non-profit associations, without any territorial distinction, while in the original text the deduction was allowed exclusively for donations to beneficiaries residing in the Republic. The reform was approved and, on 12th November 2025, the law 141/2025 was published. It entered into force on 1st January 2026.
The negotiations were (…) very tense, especially in recent weeks, and took a decisive turn thanks to the two strikes. So I must thank the workers who supported us because filling those two squares was phenomenal. I must also thank all the managers and union representatives who supported all the mobilisation initiatives. Thanks to these initiatives, we have achieved a satisfactory result that makes us proud of the work we have done.
- Milena Frulli, CDLS
Families demand greater safety for children from sexual abusers
On 4th September 2025, people gathered in Citta di San Marino at the call of the group Genitori Sammarinesi (Sammarinese Parents) and supported by the trade union confederation CSU, to demand explanation and accountability regarding the case of a person convicted of sexual assault on children in Italy, who continued to work with children in San Marino. A 27-year-old Sammarinese was convicted in April 2025 in Italy but continued to work in San Marino until August 2025. Demonstrators expressed solidarity with families and demanded measures to prevent similar cases. Union representatives called for full clarification of institutional responsibilities.