San Marino approves parliamentary regulation reform

The Consiglio Grande e Generale in San Marino has approved a reform of the parliamentary regulations with 36 votes in favor and 11 against. The new rules aim to streamline the legislative process, though the changes have sparked significant debate regarding the role of council members and democratic transparency.

During the legislative process, the majority withdrew more restrictive proposals that would have drastically reduced speaking times for votes and general interventions. This compromise was intended to ensure sufficient depth for discussing complex issues. However, opposition members, including representatives from Repubblica Futura, expressed concerns that the reform shifts substantial legislative work from the plenary assembly to committees. They argue this could reduce councilors to a secondary role, limiting their ability to directly influence amendments and the substance of laws.

On the issue of ethics and transparency, the reform introduces a system of sanctions for violations of the councilors' code of conduct, directly implementing recommendations from the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, GRECO. Additionally, to balance the increased influence of committees, the reform ensures the continued streaming of sessions and lowers the threshold for requesting radio broadcasts, providing better access for minority parties.