DIRECTDEMOCRACYS

Global Direct Democracy Political Organization

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAM

REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO

Mount Titano, Freedom and the Future of the Sammarinese People

Critical Analysis of the Current Situation · Concrete Solutions · Authentic Democracy

2025 Edition | Based on the June 9, 2024, elections

Preface by DirectDemocracyS

DirectDemocracyS (DDS) is a global political organization founded on a fundamental, absolute, and inalienable principle: the decision-making power of every country must belong permanently, completely, and exclusively to its people. Not to elected officials. Not to political parties. Not to economic elites. Not to international institutions. To the people, always, on everything, with real and verifiable tools.

This program for the Republic of San Marino applies DDS's philosophy, methodology, and technologies to the concrete and specific reality of the world's oldest republic. It is not a theoretical program. It is a set of realistic, detailed, implementable, and verifiable solutions, based on real data, honest critical analysis, logic, common sense, research, and mutual respect for every citizen of San Marino.

San Marino deserves better than the cyclical rotation of the same parties, recurring government crises, a banking system on the brink of collapse, and reforms imposed from outside without popular mandate. It deserves a system in which every citizen—every San Marino citizen, in every castle—has a direct, real, and continuous say in every decision that affects them.

DDS Founding Principle applied to San Marino The natural, economic, cultural, and identity-based riches of the Republic of San Marino belong permanently and solely to the people of San Marino. No decision affecting the collective destiny of the Republic can be made without the direct, informed, free, and verifiable consent of its citizens. No external pressure—economic, political, media, or institutional—can be accepted as a substitute for the will of the people.

 

PART ONE — CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION

1.1 The Political Framework after the Elections of June 9, 2024

On June 9, 2024, concurrent with the European elections, the Republic of San Marino renewed its Great and General Council (GGC), the 31st legislature. The elections were held ahead of schedule due to yet another government crisis: the eighth in less than ten years, as no San Marino government had managed to complete its term since the early 2000s. This historical fact is, in itself, a structural criticism of the current political system.

Election Results — June 9, 2024 Elections List / Coalition Votes % Seats / 60 Democracy and Freedom (PDCS + AR) 34.14% 26 Free – PS – PSD (Coalition) 28.29% 18 Future Republic (RF) ~12% 8 Tomorrow Free Movement (DML) ~8.5% 5 NET 5.07% 3 Demos (new movement) 4.69% Does not enter (5% threshold)

Critical analysis of the results

The Democracy and Freedom coalition, led by the PDCS, won 34.14% of the vote and 26 out of 60 seats, confirming its position as the leading party. However, this result must be interpreted critically: the PDCS has been in government (directly or as the driving force of coalitions) for decades. Its electoral stability does not necessarily reflect programmatic consensus, but rather the opposition's fragmentation, the entrenched clientelism in a microstate of 34,000 inhabitants where personal networks replace rational political judgment, and the lack of a truly systemic alternative.

STRUCTURAL CRITICALITY — The paradox of San Marino governance In less than ten years, San Marino has experienced eight government crises. No government has completed its natural term. The cause is never the will of the people expressed through a recall referendum, but always agreements and disagreements among party elites. This means that the system responds not to citizens, but to the internal dynamics of the parties. It is a representative democracy that, in effect, does not represent the people, but rather represents itself.

1.2 The Economic and Financial Situation

The San Marino economy presents a mixed picture in 2024-2025: signs of real recovery alongside deep structural vulnerabilities, the legacy of a banking crisis that threatened the system's stability for over a decade.

Key macroeconomic data 2024

Indicator	Date 2024	Trend
GDP growth (volume)	+1.0% (2025 forecast +1.2%)	▲ Growing
Public debt / GDP	62.8% (target: <60%)	▼ Down from 69.5%
Unemployment rate	4.4%	≈ Stable
Inflation	1.2% (peak 5.9% in 2023)	▼ In sharp decline
NPL (bad bank loans)	21% (was 53%)	▼ Drastically reduced
GDP per capita	World Top 10 (est.)	≈ High stable

The banking problem and the NPL crisis

San Marino's banking system has undergone a severe crisis. In 2019, non-performing loans (NPLs) accounted for 53% of total bank loans—equivalent to 114% of the entire GDP. This is one of the most serious banking failures ever recorded in a developed country. The causes are multiple: tax legislation that for years attracted opaque capital, inadequate supervision, conflicts of interest between regulators and regulated individuals, and a web of personal relationships that, in a small country, makes it difficult to separate private interests from public decisions.

The improvement to 21% is real and significant, achieved in part through securitization transactions and the creation of an Asset Management Company. However, the IMF continues to call for further efforts to improve asset quality, capitalization, and bank profitability. In a country where the financial sector accounts for over 17% of GDP, systemic risk remains high.

CRITICAL ISSUES — Banking sector still vulnerable Despite improvements, the Sammarinese banking sector remains structurally vulnerable for three key reasons: (1) Sammarinese banks do not have access to the European Central Bank, severely limiting liquidity options in the event of a shock; (2) the NPL ratio at 21%, although improved, remains much higher than the European average (around 2-3%); (3) securitisation transactions have lightened balance sheets but have not addressed the structural causes of the problem, which include the lack of real competition and the concentration of risk on a few large exhibitors.

The context of work and employment

San Marino boasts an unemployment rate of 4.4%, close to full employment. However, this figure must be analyzed carefully: San Marino has approximately 5,700 cross-border workers, mostly Italians. In the event of an economic crisis, this external workforce acts as an implicit buffer—cross-border workers return to Italy. The domestic labor market is therefore more fragile than the unemployment rate suggests. Episodes such as the crisis at Ciarulla—the main manufacturing company producing aluminum profiles—show that even key companies in San Marino's production system can suddenly find themselves in difficulty, with 250 jobs at stake.

1.3 Social and Demographic Challenges

San Marino has a population of approximately 34,000 residents, with demographic trends reflecting problems common to developed countries: an aging population, increasing housing shortages, and the emigration of young, skilled workers. The post-2024 election government has explicitly included a "comprehensive housing intervention" in its draft program to address the housing problem, implicitly acknowledging that this has become a critical issue.

• Demographic aging and pressure on the pension and healthcare systems
• Emigration of qualified young people to Italy and other EU countries
• Growing housing difficulties, with property prices on the rise
• Dependence on the Italian cross-border workforce (over 5,700 units)
• Cultural integration and management of San Marino identity in a global context

1.4 The Question of the Association Agreement with the European Union

The Association Agreement with the EU has been a central theme of San Marino political debate in recent years, and was a major point of contention in the 2024 elections. The government presents it as a "historic opportunity," while critics see it as a loss of sovereignty disguised as modernization.

DDS analyzes this agreement with the only instrument it deems legitimate: the will of the San Marino people, expressed freely and in an informed manner, without media manipulation or external pressure. The University of San Marino survey indicates 62% support for the agreement—a significant figure, but one that raises critical questions: were citizens informed in a truly neutral, comprehensive, and balanced manner? Were they able to read, understand, and evaluate the real costs and benefits, not those rhetorically presented by supporters?

Potential Benefits •        Access to the European Single Market •        Trade facilitation •        Study and work opportunities across the EU for young people •        Totalization of contribution periods between San Marino and EU countries •        Mutual recognition of professional qualifications •        Access to European programmes (research, training, culture)

Risks and Critical Issues •        Mandatory alignment with the acquis communautaire (European law) •        Loss of autonomous regulatory flexibility •        Pressure on the banking system to comply with EU standards •        Risk of increased internal mobility with social tensions •        No access to EU structural funds •        Potential erosion of Sammarinese cultural identity (fear of 65% of citizens)

DEMOCRATIC ISSUES — The EU Agreement and the Participation Deficit DDS notes that an agreement of this magnitude—which structurally modifies the relationship between the Republic of San Marino and its own legal system, opening it up to the adoption of external legislation—would have required not just a simple parliamentary debate, but a direct, ongoing, and informed popular consultation process, with equal access to all views. The fact that 70% of San Marino residents fear an increase in crime and 65% fear a decline in cultural identity following the agreement demonstrates that these concerns have not been adequately addressed in the institutional debate.

1.5 Corruption, Transparency and Governance

The Council of Europe, through GRECO (Groupe d'États contre la Corruption), identified four high-risk areas of corruption for San Marino in 2024: (1) recruitment and career progression of public officials; (2) public procurement; (3) administrative acts with direct economic effects; (4) administrative acts without direct economic effects. The government responded by launching a Three-Year Corruption Prevention Plan, a positive step that DDS, however, considers insufficient without mechanisms of direct popular control.

In a country of 34,000 people, networks of personal relationships are inevitable and not necessarily illicit. However, this very characteristic makes it difficult to separate public and private interests, and makes formal corruption prevention mechanisms particularly vulnerable. In such a small context, the solution cannot be purely bureaucratic: it must be structural, transparent, and participatory.

 

PART TWO — THE DDS PROGRAM FOR SAN MARINO

The DDS program for San Marino is divided into six major thematic areas, each with a critical analysis of the current situation, concrete and detailed solutions, implementation mechanisms, practical examples, and forecasts of consequences. Each solution is designed to be realistic, progressively implementable, and verifiable by citizens in real time.

AREA 1 — Democratic Reform: Authentic Democracy for San Marino

Critical diagnosis of the current system

San Marino has a very ancient democratic tradition—it is the oldest republic in the world—but the current system exhibits characteristics that DDS considers incompatible with authentic democracy: parties that decide national policy through coalitions, without ongoing citizen consultation; government crises decided by party elites without a popular mandate; lack of direct recall mechanisms for elected officials; public information filtered by RTV San Marino, the state media, and by party positions; and lack of mechanisms for ongoing popular legislative proposals.

The imperative mandate—that is, the obligation of elected officials to uphold the platform voted for by citizens, under penalty of recall—does not exist in the current system. Elected councilors can change coalitions, overthrow governments, and contradict the electoral platform without the people being able to effectively intervene. This is not democracy: it is elective oligarchy.

DDS SOLUTION 1 — ddsAI and allddsAI Systems: Digital Direct Democracy for San Marino DDS proposes the progressive implementation of the ddsAI platform and the AI democracy allddsAI, adapted to the size and specificities of San Marino. The platform includes: •        Secure and verified access for every Sammarinese citizen through the three-code verification system (identity, participation, digital signature), integrated with the Sammarinese digital identity system •        Territorial micro-groups per castle (City, Borgo Maggiore, Serravalle, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, Acquaviva, Chiesanuova) — 9 basic macro-groups, each subdivided into micro-groups of 5 people for a specific theme •        Continuous voting on every legislative proposal before, during and after the parliamentary process •        Digital imperative mandate: each councilor is bound by the program voted by their voters, with the possibility of revocation in the event of betrayal verifiable on the platform •        Completely neutral and independent information provided by DDS AIs (ddsAI and allddsAI), which present each topic from all perspectives, with verified data and cited sources •        Total protection from manipulation: the DDS platform is closed to political advertising, partisan funding, and external influences of any kind

Practical implementation mechanism in San Marino

Given the Republic's small size (34,000 inhabitants, approximately 22,000 eligible voters), San Marino represents the ideal context for a global pilot of digital direct democracy. All eligible voters could be included in the DDS platform in less than six months, with technical support groups trained locally in the nine castles.

• Phase 1 (months 1-3): Registration and training — opening the platform to all Sammarinese citizens, training of local facilitators in the 9 castles, integration with the existing Sammarinese digital identity system
• Phase 2 (months 4-6): Operational micro-groups — formation of thematic groups for the economy, healthcare, education, environment, and foreign affairs. Each group includes volunteer experts (DDS values expertise), ordinary citizens, and receives neutral information from ddsAI.
• Phase 3 (months 7-12): Integration with the CGG — proposals voted on by the DDS platform are formally presented to the Great and General Council, creating a double track: formal representative democracy + substantive direct democracy
• Phase 4 (year 2 onwards): Imperative mandate – each election candidate publicly presents their specific, binding and verifiable commitments on the DDS platform

A concrete example: the issue of the EU Agreement. If the DDS platform were already active, every citizen of San Marino could: read the full agreement with plain-language explanations produced by ddsAI; view simulations of the consequences (economic, regulatory, social) neutrally developed by the AI; participate in micro-discussion groups with experts in European law, economics, and cultural identity; vote on specific paragraphs and not just on the agreement as a whole; monitor how each of their representatives voted, and revoke their representatives if they violated their mandate.

Expected consequences

• Eliminate government crises decided by parties: the people decide when to vote
• Reducing political absenteeism and increasing civic participation
• Total and verifiable transparency on every public decision
• San Marino becomes a global model of digital direct democracy — a huge gain in image and international influence for a country that already bases its relevance on its historical uniqueness.

AREA 2 — Economy: Endogenous Growth, Diversification, and Collective Ownership

Critical diagnosis

San Marino's economy is overly dependent on a few sectors: manufacturing, which is at high risk of crisis (as demonstrated by Ciarulla), financial services, which remains vulnerable, tourism under-exploited compared to its potential, and trade oriented primarily towards the Italian market. Its almost total dependence on Italy—as a trade outlet, cross-border labor market, and regulatory framework—makes San Marino structurally vulnerable to fluctuations in the Italian economy and Rome's political choices.

DDS Solution 2 — 'San Marino First' Economic Plan: Diversification, Public Ownership, and Shared Wealth DDS proposes an economic plan based on the principle that the wealth generated within San Marino belongs to the people of San Marino, and that economic growth should not be delegated to uncontrolled external investors, but built on the resources, skills, and vision of the citizens themselves.

2.1 Financial Sector: Structural Reform of the Banking System

The banking sector needs profound structural reform, not just technical adjustments. DDS proposes:

• Creation of a Sammarinese Public Bank under direct popular control through the DDS platform, with transparent governance and quarterly reporting accessible to all citizens.
• Clear separation between commercial banking (lending to households and businesses) and investment banking (financial markets) — along the lines of the Glass-Steagall Act, preventing speculative risks from falling on depositors
• Introduction of a Sammarinese deposit guarantee system, independent from the Italian system, with a guarantee fund supported by progressive bank contributions
• Banking supervision strengthened with public commissioners selected for documented competence and not political affiliation — a transparent selection process verified by the DDS platform
• Gradual introduction of VAT using the San Marino method: differentiated rates to protect vulnerable groups (zero rate on essential goods, low rate on local products, standard rate on luxury imports)

Concrete example of impact: A Sammarinese public bank with a €200 million small business loan portfolio, at favorable interest rates (2-3% versus the market rate of 5-7%), could generate annual savings of €4-10 million for local businesses, which could be reinvested in employment and innovation. The public bank's profits are returned to the public budget, reducing the tax burden on citizens.

2.2 Manufacturing and Innovation: Made in San Marino

San Marino has a genuine manufacturing tradition—ceramics, clothing, precision mechanics, and technology—that must be promoted and protected as a heritage of the San Marino people, not left unsupported by market fluctuations. DDS proposes:

• Sammarinese Fund for Manufacturing Innovation: €15 million annually (1-1.5% of GDP), managed with mixed public-private-popular governance through the DDS platform, intended to finance R&D, automation and green transition of existing companies
• Preferential public procurement policy: 70% of San Marino public contracts are mandatorily awarded to companies with headquarters and production in San Marino.
• 'Prodotto in San Marino' brand: a certification of origin with high added value for the international market, similar to the 'Made in Switzerland' label for Switzerland — a country of comparable size with one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world.
• Sector emergency plan: for every company with more than 50 employees in difficulty (like Ciarulla), the DDS platform activates a popular consultation within 48 hours on the intervention options: public rescue, cooperative conversion, controlled liquidation

2.3 Tourism: From Passage Tourism to Value Tourism

San Marino welcomes approximately 2 million visitors each year, but the majority stay for less than three hours and spend very little. This tourism is a one-way trip that generates traffic and pollution with no real economic benefit for residents. DDS proposes a radical transformation of the tourism model:

• Cultural and immersive tourism: creating 'San Marino life' experiences—visits to artisan workshops, participation in historical events, certified homestays in castle residences, and tastings of local products.
• Democratic Heritage Tourism: San Marino as a global destination for those who want to understand how the world's oldest democracy works — Museum of Democracy, an interactive journey through institutional history, integrated with the DDS platform as an example of future democracy
• Tourist tax for hit-and-run tourism: €5 for visitors staying less than two hours, with exemptions for those booking certified experiences lasting longer—an incentive for higher-quality tourism.
• Popular Tourist Fund: 30% of the tourist tax revenue goes directly to castle residents through a local dividend mechanism — citizens become economically interested in maintaining the high quality of tourism

Projection: With just 200,000 annual visitors spending an average of 15 euros to 80 euros (accommodation + experiences + local purchases), the economic return for San Marino would increase by 13 million euros per year, without increasing the number of visitors.

2.4 Digital Economy and Technology

DDS proposes to position San Marino as a leading technology hub for digital democracy and transparent governance—a high-value niche market, consistent with San Marino's history and identity.

• San Marino Digital Democracy Hub: attracting startups and companies specializing in govtech (technology for governance), blockchain for public transparency, e-participation, data protection, and cybersecurity—highly growing global sectors.
• A preferential tax regime for tech companies that develop open-source digital democracy tools and sell them to the international community — San Marino becomes the place where the future of democracy is built
• Mandatory digital education: integrating advanced digital literacy, coding, and algorithmic critical thinking into San Marino school curricula — young people in San Marino are becoming protagonists of the digital revolution instead of being subjected to it.

AREA 3 — Tax System: Fairness, Simplicity, and Popular Control

Critical diagnosis

San Marino's tax system has historically been characterized by relatively simple direct taxation (IGR, General Income Tax), but by an overall structure that has favored aggressive tax optimization for decades—attracting less-than-transparent capital. GRECO, the IMF, and European partners have repeatedly highlighted these anomalies. The introduction of VAT, required by the EU Agreement, is inevitable but risks being implemented in a way that primarily impacts the consumption of low- and middle-income families unless carefully designed.

DDS SOLUTION 3 — Fair, Transparent, and Democratically Controlled Taxation DDS proposes a tax reform based on three principles: (1) those who have more contribute more; (2) every euro of public revenue is traceable, verifiable and voted on by citizens as to its destination; (3) no increase in the overall tax burden on low-middle income families.

• Progressive IGR scale with rates democratically revised by the DDS platform every three years — no tax decisions without a direct popular mandate
• Differentiated San Marino VAT: zero rate on basic foodstuffs, medicines, and healthcare services; reduced rate (5%) on local products certified 'Made in San Marino'; standard rate (10%) on common goods; increased rate (15%) on luxury goods and high-value imports
• Minimum wealth tax on large fortunes (threshold: net assets exceeding 2 million euros) — with exemption for the primary residence and productive activities in San Marino
• Public register of assets and income of public office holders, updated in real time and accessible on the DDS platform
• Fighting tax evasion with technology: automatic cross-referencing of data (purchases, properties, lifestyle) through ddsAI systems, with estimated tax recovery of 8-12 million euros per year.
• Digital Participatory Budgeting: 15% of San Marino's public budget is allocated annually through direct voting on the DDS platform — citizens decide where to invest public resources.

A concrete example of participatory budgeting: Of the estimated €300 million in San Marino's annual budget, €45 million is put to a direct popular vote. Citizens choose from technically validated proposals: upgrading the water network (cost: €8 million), building a nursery school in the smaller castles (cost: €3 million), supporting artisanal businesses (cost: €5 million), etc. Each proposal includes a cost-benefit estimate prepared by ddsAI and validated by independent experts.

AREA 4 — Social: Authentic Welfare, Education, and Rights

4.1 Welfare and Social Security System

San Marino has a relatively developed welfare system for its size, but it faces growing pressures from an aging population and rising healthcare costs. The EU Agreement changes the rules on contributory aggregation, creating both opportunities and risks.

DDS SOLUTION 4 — Guaranteed Minimum Income with Structured Volunteering (GUMI-SV) DDS proposes implementing the GUMI-SV (Guaranteed Universal Minimum Income with Structured Volunteerism) model for San Marino: a guaranteed minimum income for all San Marino citizens experiencing financial hardship, linked to structured forms of volunteering and community participation—not as a punitive condition, but as an opportunity to contribute to the common good based on one's skills and energy. •        Basic amount: 800 euros/month for a single individual, scalable for families •        Condition: 15-20 hours per month of public service activities (elderly care, school assistance, local maintenance, cultural support), defined and assigned through the DDS platform with automatic matching between need and competence •        Maximum duration: 24 consecutive months, renewable for documented situations of permanent difficulty •        Financing: Redistribution of part of the additional tax revenues obtained from the fight against tax evasion and the wealth tax, without increasing the tax burden on average families.

4.2 Education: Training the Citizens of Tomorrow

The San Marino school system, although of good quality, requires a thorough update to prepare young people for the challenges of the 21st century: critical thinking, digital skills, practical civic education (not just theoretical), and the ability to engage in informed democratic participation.

• Introduction of digital civic education as a core subject in all school grades—not the history of institutions, but the practice of direct democracy through the DDS platform
• San Marino School of Democracy: Establishment of an international training center on participatory democracy, hosted in San Marino and attended by students and researchers from around the world — a source of income, reputation, and influence
• Popular scholarships: funding for university education for San Marino students (in San Marino or abroad) with the obligation to return and contribute to the country for at least three years — to combat brain drain.
• Integration of DDS micro-groups in high schools: 16-year-olds participate in proposal groups on real local topics, with proposals that are actually evaluated by the institutions

4.3 Healthcare: Small but Complete Excellence

San Marino has a good-quality public healthcare system, but it faces the structural limitations of a small state: dependence on Italy for rare specialties, difficulty retaining highly specialized skills, and high per capita costs. DDS proposes:

• Complementary specialization agreements with neighboring micro-countries (Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein) for sharing high-cost specialized healthcare resources — creating synergies between small entities instead of depending solely on Italy
• Advanced telemedicine with ddsAI: Using DDS AI for first-level diagnostic support, waiting list reduction, and continuous health monitoring of senior citizens at home
• People's Pharmacy: Collective purchasing of medications through the DDS platform, with group negotiation to obtain lower prices — estimated savings of 20-30% on public pharmaceutical spending
• People's Health Commission: Citizens directly elect representatives to govern the hospital and the healthcare system, with the power to propose and verify quality standards.

4.4 Rights and Inclusion

San Marino has made significant progress in civil rights (civil unions, LGBTQ+ protection with the new Association 121), but DDS believes that a true democracy must guarantee rights not as concessions from above, but as an expression of the conscious and informed will of the people.

• Every proposed law on rights is discussed on the DDS platform with complete and neutral information from ddsAI, avoiding both the suppression of rights due to conservative pressure and imposition from above without verified popular consent.
• Strengthened constitutional protection of fundamental rights, with popular review mechanism requiring a supermajority (75%) for any amendment
• Effective gender equality: target of 50% women in all public offices within 5 years, with binding quotas and transparency on progression

AREA 5 — Sovereignty, Foreign Policy and EU Agreement

Critical diagnosis

San Marino is a sovereign state in all respects, with a seat at the United Nations and diplomatic representation. However, its real sovereignty is challenged by four factors: economic dependence on Italy, increasingly close integration with the EU, international pressure on its financial system, and the lack of a true defense capacity. The challenge is to maintain and strengthen San Marino's sovereignty without isolating itself from the world.

DDS SOLUTION 5 — Protected Popular Sovereignty and Active Diplomacy DDS applies to San Marino the same rule it applies to all countries in the world: the riches of San Marino, the historical, cultural, economic, and institutional heritage of the Republic, belong to the people of San Marino and to them alone. No international agreement can be ratified without the direct, informed, and verifiable consent of the citizens of San Marino.

• Mandatory referendum for any international agreement that structurally modifies Sammarinese laws or the sovereignty of the Republic – including the EU Agreement, which should be submitted to a direct popular vote after a 90-day neutral information process on the DDS platform
• Democracy Diplomacy: San Marino uses its historical uniqueness and the DDS platform to present itself as an international model, actively participating in global forums on democratic governance and becoming the seat of international organizations for participatory democracy.
• Equal bilateral agreements: every agreement with Italy is periodically renegotiated through a popular evaluation process — Italy needs San Marino as much as San Marino needs Italy, but this balance must be explicit and negotiated with awareness
• Global Sammarinese digital identity: Sammarinese people around the world (over 15,000 emigrants and descendants) are included in the DDS platform as 'connected citizens', with the right to participate in consultations (but not to vote on national laws) — creating an active and engaged Sammarinese diaspora.
• San Marino as a hub for international mediation: its historical neutrality and democratic credibility can make it a venue for negotiations and mediation between countries in conflict — replicating the Swiss model on a larger scale.

DDS Position on the EU Agreement

DDS is neither for nor against the Association Agreement with the EU in theory. DDS is pro-people: if the citizens of San Marino, fully informed and neutrally informed by ddsAI, without external pressure or disinformation campaigns from those in favor or against, freely decide that the agreement is in their best interest, DDS supports it. If they decide it is not, DDS respects and defends that decision.

What DDS demands is that the choice be truly free, truly informed, and truly popular. Not the vote of 60 councilors chosen from among the party elite. Not pressure from the European Commission. Not government press releases. Instead, the voice of every San Marino citizen, consciously expressed through tools that protect their freedom of thought and vote.

AREA 6 — Environment, Territory and Quality of Life

Critical diagnosis

San Marino is a microstate of 61 square kilometers nestled in the breathtakingly beautiful Apennine mountains. Its small size represents an environmental vulnerability but also an opportunity: what would take decades in a large country can be achieved in just a few years. However, the current development model generates disproportionate tourism and traffic pressures on the territory, lacking a commensurate environmental policy.

• Comprehensive energy transition: San Marino can become the world's first state powered entirely by renewable energy. With 61 km² of land, its energy needs can be met entirely by rooftop photovoltaic systems, small wind farms, and storage systems. Estimated total investment: €80-100 million, recoverable in 15 years through energy savings and the sale of the surplus to Italy.
• Sustainable mobility: elimination of private traffic in historic areas (already partially underway), strengthening of electric public transport in castles, creation of an integrated cycle network between the nine castles
• Organic farming in San Marino: support for small-scale local production (wine, oil, dairy products) with the San Marino DOP label, priority access to local and online markets, and integration with tourism offerings.
• Popular Land Management Plan: Decisions on construction, green spaces, parks and industrial zones are voted on by the citizens of the affected castles through the DDS platform, ensuring that development respects the local quality of life.
• Climate resilience: a plan for adapting to climate change (drought, extreme events) with popular participation in defining priorities and distributing investments

 

PART THREE — DirectDemocracyS: The System, the Technologies, and the Vision

3.1 The DDS Organizational Model: Fractal Democracy

DirectDemocracyS is not a political party. It is not a movement. It is not an association. It is a system—a coherent set of principles, rules, technological tools, and organizational mechanisms designed to place decision-making power in the hands of every single citizen, permanently, verifiably, and securely.

The DDS organizational model is fractal: it starts with micro-groups of 5 people, which then aggregate into groups of 25 (5x5), then 125 (5x5x5), then 625 (5x5x5x5). Each level makes decisions on issues within its own remit, delegating upward only those that cannot be handled at the lower level. The principle is radical subsidiarity: decisions are always made at the level closest possible to the citizens directly affected.

For San Marino, with 34,000 inhabitants and 22,000 eligible voters, the fractal model produces approximately 4,400 basic micro-groups (5 people), which can be aggregated into 880 secondary groups (25 people), 176 tertiary groups (125 people), and 35 fourth-level groups (625 people). San Marino's nine castles become natural organizational units, with thematic groups for each policy area.

DDS Fractal Structure for San Marino — Application Example Serravalle Castle (the most populous, approximately 10,000 inhabitants): •        ~2,000 eligible voters → ~400 micro-groups of 5 people •        Each micro-group specializes in a theme: local economy, school, healthcare, environment, safety, culture •        Groups elect rotating coordinators (maximum term 12 months) to advance positions to higher levels •        Decisions on local issues remain at the castle level; national decisions are aggregated through the DDS digital platform. •        Each coordinator has an imperative mandate: he can be revoked at any time by vote of his own group, without waiting for electoral deadlines.

3.2 ddsAI and allddsAI: Informed and Free Democracy

The fundamental difference between DDS democracy and all existing democratic systems is information. In a conventional representative democracy, citizens vote every four to five years after being exposed to electoral campaigns designed to persuade, not inform. Political advertising, media propaganda, algorithmic social media, and party financing create a profoundly distorted information environment.

DDS addresses this problem at its root with two key technology tools: ddsAI (the AI embedded in the DDS platform) and allddsAI (the AI democracy network—multiple independent AIs working together to ensure absolute information neutrality).

How ddsAI works for a Sammarinese citizen Scenario: The Great and General Council proposes a new law on building in historic castles. •        The DDS platform notifies each registered citizen with a simple language summary, prepared by ddsAI •        ddsAI automatically provides: the full text of the proposal; an explanation in plain Italian; the positions of all affected parties and groups; the estimated economic consequences (costs, revenues, impact on local GDP); the estimated social consequences (jobs created/lost, impact on the landscape, effects on tourism); the positions of expert groups in the field; examples of how similar laws have worked in other countries; any critical aspects or risks not communicated by the government. •        The citizen reads, participates in his micro-group to discuss, and votes — all through the platform, with verified identity and protected voting •        The DDS platform is completely closed to advertising, external funding and influence of any kind: no engagement algorithms, no information bubbles, no manipulation

allddsAI adds an additional layer of assurance: multiple independent AI systems analyze each topic and "check" each other, ensuring that no single AI can be manipulated or influenced to shape public opinion. The system is designed to find the truth, not to seek consensus or user appeal.

3.3 The Three-Code Identity System

Participation in the DDS platform requires a verified identity. DDS uses a three-code system: the first code verifies the citizen's personal identity (integrated with the San Marino civil registers); the second code verifies their qualification as eligible to participate (citizenship, age of majority, residency); the third code acts as a unique digital signature for each vote cast, ensuring authenticity and irreversibility.

The system simultaneously guarantees: certain identification (prevents multiple voting and bots); anonymity of the vote (no one can know how a single individual voted); collective verifiability (the aggregate result is publicly verifiable); protection against coercion (no group can force a member's vote, since the vote is private and protected).

In a country like San Marino, where networks of personal acquaintances are intense and the risk of informal pressure on voting is real, this system is particularly valuable: it frees every citizen from having to publicly express their position on sensitive issues, while ensuring that their voice is counted and protected.

3.4 The Imperative Mandate and the Revocation Mechanism

In DDS, every person holding office has a binding mandate: they are bound by specific commitments made publicly before taking office. There is no possibility of changing coalitions, voting against the mandate received, or making decisions not included in the program without explicit authorization from their group.

The recall mechanism works like this: if a representative violates their mandate, any member of the group can initiate recall proceedings. If 51% of the group supports the recall, the representative is immediately removed from office. There are no waiting for elections. There is no need for a parliamentary majority. Power immediately returns to the group, which elects a replacement following the same rules.

Applied to San Marino: no councilor could ever again overthrow a government, change coalitions, or vote against its platform without the immediate risk of losing their mandate. The eight government crises of recent years would never have been possible with a DDS system, because stability does not depend on agreements between party elites, but on respecting the popular mandate.

 

PART FOUR — Progressive Implementation Plan

DDS does not propose a revolution from above. It proposes a bottom-up transition, progressive, verifiable, and reversible at every stage. The people of San Marino retain complete control of the process at all times: they can accelerate it, slow it down, or stop it. This is precisely what distinguishes DDS from any other political force.

Phase	Period	Priority actions
Phase 1 — Foundation	Months 1-6	Registration of all interested Sammarinese citizens on the DDS platform · Training of facilitators in the 9 castles · Establishment of the first thematic micro-groups · Public launch of the platform with the first consultative referendum on a local issue
Phase 2 — Growth	Months 7-18	Extension to all eligible voters · First participatory budget campaign (5% of the budget) · Integration with CGG for the formal presentation of popular proposals · Pilot of the revocation system in a sample castle
Phase 3 — Integration	Year 2-3	Imperative mandate for all candidates in the upcoming elections · Participatory budget raised to 15% · Direct popular referendum on the EU Agreement after neutral information · Launch of the Sammarinese Public Bank
Stage 4 — Maturity	Year 4-5	Direct democracy as the primary system for all local decisions · Representative democracy as the executor of popular decisions · San Marino as a certified international model of digital direct democracy · Expansion of the model to other microstates

 

Conclusions — San Marino, the Courage to Be Truly Free

San Marino is the oldest republic in the world. It has survived emperors, dictators, world wars, and economic crises, maintaining its identity, its independence, and its ability to innovate while respecting tradition. This history is not a burden to bear: it is a promise to keep.

The promise is that of a people governing itself. Not through delegation to party elites who alternate in power without substantially changing anything. Not through international agreements negotiated in government offices without consulting the citizens. Not through an opaque banking system that for decades has managed wealth far removed from the real needs of the people of Mount Titano.

The promise is that of every San Marino citizen who has a say in what concerns them: their children's schooling, their job, their home, the environment they live in, the agreements their Republic makes with the world. This promise is not being kept today. With DirectDemocracyS, it can be.

DDS doesn't offer magic recipes. It offers real, verifiable, and already functioning tools, adapted to the San Marino reality with respect for its uniqueness. It offers the conviction—based on logic, research, common sense, and mutual respect—that the San Marino people, fully informed and fully free, are perfectly capable of deciding their own future better than any party, coalition, or international institution.

San Marino is the ideal size to demonstrate to the world that digital direct democracy works. 34,000 people spread across 61 km². A manageable territory. A genuine democratic tradition. A cohesive community. An international reputation for independence and innovation. All the ingredients are there.

The time is now. The people of San Marino are ready. DirectDemocracyS is here to build this new story together.

DirectDemocracyS

"Power to the people — truly, always, over everything."

www.directdemocracys.org