The Country with the First-Ever Democratically Elected Communist Government
Following the end of World War II, in 1945 San Marino became the first ever democratically-elected communist government. Making it the only communist-ruled state in Western Europe.
The official colours of San Marino are blue and white.
But here’s something you probably didn’t know: for a while, red was also an official colour.
We were the first nation in the world to democratically elect a communist government.
And not just for a minute. It lasted over a decade.
Oh, and during that time?
We had plenty of diplomatic standoffs with Italy, and constant pressure from the West.
Let’s rewind.
From Fascism to Freedom
After World War II, San Marino - which had managed to remain neutral during the conflict, even while being surrounded by Fascist Italy - needed a fresh start.
The Sammarinese Fascist Party was ousted, and in the general election of 1945, a new coalition swept into power: the Committee of Freedom, made up of the Sammarinese Socialist Party and the Sammarinese Communist Party.
They won 40 out of 60 seats. Game over.
It was the first time a communist-led coalition had been elected to govern a country democratically, and it made San Marino the only communist-ruled state in Western Europe.
Even The New York Times noticed. Reporting on San Marino’s 1949 re-election of its red government, correspondent Camille M. Cianfarra wrote:
“The sovereign republic of San Marino would continue to have the only Communist Government on this side of the Iron Curtain.”
That’s how unique it was.
Not Exactly a Soviet Paradise
Don’t get the wrong idea: this wasn’t a mini Moscow.
Yes, the government leaned left. But it nationalised only three industries (and they were pharmacies, not steel mills). The goal was mostly to make sure that San Marino didn’t fall back into the hands of a few local patrician families, as it had been for centuries.
Still, Cold War nerves were high. And Washington didn’t like red.
The US launched a boycott of San Marino’s economy, pressuring Italy not to sign agreements with the microstate. It worked: San Marino was left out in the cold. Poor and isolated, but still democratic.
Somehow, the Communists kept winning elections: 1949, 1951, 1955.
Always close, but always enough to govern.
Hungary, 1956: The Beginning of the End
Things started to shift in 1956, when the Soviet Union violently crushed the Hungarian Revolution.
Even in Western Europe, many communists distanced themselves from the Soviets. But in San Marino, the Communist Party refused to condemn Moscow.
That caused a fracture.
Five moderate Socialist MPs broke away and formed a new party: the Sammarinese Independent Democratic Socialist Party. This shattered the majority, leading to a 30–30 deadlock in Parliament.
By 1957, San Marino was in a full-blown constitutional crisis.
The Rovereta Affair: Two Governments, No Shots
What happened next was… kind of surreal.
On 19 September 1957, the outgoing government blocked the election of new Heads of State (Captains-Regent) by declaring that several councillors had resigned, using undated letters they’d been forced to sign after the previous election. Classic.
That move effectively shut down Parliament.
In response, the opposition declared a new provisional government. They took over an abandoned factory in Rovereta, on the Italian border, and set up shop.
Italy immediately backed the new government. So did France and the United States. Carabinieri blocked roads. San Marino’s border was sealed.
Inside the country, both governments began forming militias.
A civil war seemed possible, but thankfully, not a single shot was fired. After 22 tense days, the old government gave up.
A New Chapter (with Women’s Votes!)
The new provisional government took power on 11 October 1957 and immediately introduced women’s suffrage - a major step forward for the Republic.
The following elections confirmed the anti-communist coalition in power, and San Marino’s 12-year experiment with democratic communism came to a peaceful end.
From that moment on, the Christian Democrats would dominate San Marino’s politics for decades (Actually… they still kind of do!)
Oh, and One More Thing: A Casino?
Yes, during the Communist government, San Marino opened its first casino, the now-infamous Kursaal.
It didn’t last long.
Italy was less than thrilled about the competition. After just 17 months of diplomatic pressure (and some wheel-removal antics at the border), San Marino was forced to shut it down.
If you want the full story, we’ve got an article about that too: San Marino’s Casino: From History to Reality.
What It All Means
It’s easy to forget just how extraordinary this little Republic has been.
While the world was dividing into Cold War camps, San Marino chose its own path: democratic communism. No coups. No violence. Just the ballot box.
Sure, it ended in a standoff in a factory.
But that’s politics, even in the world’s Oldest Republic.
