1920 San Marino general election explained

Country:San Marino
Flag Year:1862
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1918
Next Election:1923
Election Date:14 November 1920
Seats For Election:All 60 seats in the Grand and General Council
Majority Seats:31
Turnout:59.17%
First Election:yes
Party1:Sammarinese People's Party
Seats1:29
Percentage1:47.75
Party2:Sammarinese Socialist Party
Seats2:18
Percentage2:29.58
Leader3:Manlio Gozi
Party3:Sammarinese Democratic Union
Seats3:13
Percentage3:22.67

General elections were held in San Marino on 14 November 1920 to elect the sixth term of the Grand and General Council.[1] It was the country's first snap election, and the first election to use a form of proportional representation.[2] The result was a victory for the Sammarinese People's Party, which won 29 of the 60 seats.[3]

Electoral system

Following Italy, San Marino adopted a party-list proportional representation electoral system on 15 October 1920. The three-class division was eliminated, and councillors' terms limited to four years.

Voters had to be citizens of San Marino, male, the head of the family and 24 years old.

Campaign

The Sammarinese People's Party made its debut, after Pope Benedict's abolition of the non expedit had allowed the foundation of its twin, the Italian People's Party. By their part, landowners created a conservative party, the Sammarinese Democratic Union, campaigning for the return to pre-1906 institutions to restore order against strikes and political violence.

Aftermath

The Socialists refused to join the newly elected council, following a revolutionary political strategy. On 11 January 1921, all Socialist seats were declared vacant due to absence and a by-election was held on 10 April, in which ten Christian democrats and eight conservatives were elected.

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. The electoral system used the D'Hondt method.
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1690