San Marino Coalition Gov't Falls

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 06, 2002

San Marino Coalition Gov't Falls

San Marino's coalition government fell Wednesday after the Socialists withdrew support from the Christian Democrats, long the dominant party in this tiny republic in northeastern Italy.

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San Marino's coalition government fell Wednesday after the Socialists withdrew support from the Christian Democrats, long the dominant party in this tiny republic in northeastern Italy.

The Socialists were expected to be able to form a new government along with the Democratic Party and the Popular Alliance. Together, the three parties have 32 seats in the 60-seat parliament and may be able to count on votes of smaller parties as well, analysts said.

The crisis was sparked by a mounting power struggle between the Socialists and the Christian Democrats, who formed a coalition government after June 2001 elections.

The crisis came to a head several weeks ago when parliament voted on a law requiring elections if the government fell, said Henry Bucci, secretary of the Christian Democrats' youth movement.

The measure failed, and the Socialists on Wednesday withdrew their support from the government.

The Christian Democrats have five days to try to form a new government, but if they fail, the Socialists will have their chance, said Bucci, reached by telephone at the party's headquarters late Wednesday.

The Socialists are expected to muster the support necessary from the Democrats and the Popular Alliance to win a confidence vote June 25, said Enrico Lazzari, a political analyst from the San Marino daily Tribuna Sanmarinese.

Founded in the year 301, San Marino calls itself the world's oldest republic, with an unbroken line of elected government officials since at least 1244.

The 23-square-mile republic, located in a mountainous enclave of northeast Italy, depends on tourism, postage stamps and financial services for income.

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