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Do you want women to be allowed to voluntarily terminate pregnancy until the twelfth week of gestation, and also thereafter if there is danger to the life of the woman or if there are abnormalities and malformations of the fetus that pose a serious risk to the physical or psychological health of the woman? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A referendum on the legality of abortion was held in San Marino on 26 September 2021. [1] The result was an overwhelming vote in favour of legalisation. [2] [3]
Abortion was banned under any circumstance in Sammarinese law (Articles 153 and 154 of the Criminal Code), making it one of four European countries, along with Malta, Andorra and the Vatican City where similar laws were in place. [4] Abortions in cases of endangering the life of the mother were de facto allowed out of medical necessity, however, despite this exception not being explicitly mentioned in the legislation. Punishment for violation of the law was a sentence of three to five years in prison. [5]
Those seeking abortions could go to neighbouring Italy (where abortion is legal since 1978), but for a cost of 2000 to 2500 euros, not reimbursed by the Sammarinese healthcare as it was illegal at home. [6] [7]
The referendum question was published on 15 March 2021 [8] after the RETE Movement and the Women's Union of San Marino [9] [10] collected enough signatures (equivalent to 3% of registered voters) under the law permitting referendums passed in 1994. [11] Before the referendum, the last attempt to legalise abortion in some form was in 1974, which was rejected. [12] [13] [14]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 11,119 | 77.30 |
| Against | 3,265 | 22.70 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 175 | – |
| Total | 14,559 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 35,411 | 41.11 |
| Source: Referendum.sm Archived 12 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine | ||
The referendum passed despite being strongly opposed by the Catholic church, with the Bishop of San Marino, Andrea Turazzi, expressing that the church was "decidedly against" the proposal. [3] Turnout was 41.1%, slightly lower than the 2019 referendum which amended electoral and anti-discrimination laws. [15]
The referendum proposed legalising abortion up to the 12th week of gestation, or if the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's life or if there are "abnormalities and malformations of the fetus that pose a serious risk to the physical or psychological health of the woman". [16] [17] [3]
With the passage of the referendum, the San Marino parliament was required to pass a law to enact its result. The law entered into force on 12 September 2022. [18]
San Marino was one of the last European states where abortion remained criminalised without explicit exception (along with Andorra, Malta and Vatican City), and thus joined other European Catholic countries like Ireland, where a 2018 referendum also approved allowing the procedure. [3]
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino and also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, is a European microstate and enclave within Italy. Located on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains, it is the fifth-smallest country in the world, with a land area of just over 61 km2 and a population of 33,660 as of 2022.
The flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield with a closed crown on top, flanked by an oak and laurel wreath, with a scroll below bearing the word LIBERTAS (Freedom). The two colors of the flag represent peace (white) and liberty.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in San Marino may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in San Marino, but households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
San Marino has recognized civil unions for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples since 5 December 2018. The law to permit civil unions became fully operational on 11 February 2019, following a number of further legal and administrative changes.
The Socialist Party is a moderate social-democratic political party in San Marino. The party was founded on 30 May 2012 as a merger of the New Socialist Party and Sammarinese Reformist Socialist Party.
Torraccia Airfield, also known as Toraccia Helipad and Airfield or Toraccia Airport, is a small general aviation aerodrome in Torraccia, a village east of the castello of Domagnano, Republic of San Marino, less than 200 metres from the Italian border.
Relations between the Republic of San Marino and the European Union (EU) began in February 1983. San Marino is completely surrounded by one EU member state, Italy.
The Union for the Republic was a centrist, Christian-democratic political party in San Marino. The party was formed on 4 March 2011 by a merger of the Centre Democrats (DdC) and Euro-Populars for San Marino (EPS).
Abortion in San Marino is legal in the first 12 weeks of gestation for any reason. It is also legal until fetal viability if the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's life, if the fetus has an anomaly that poses a risk to the woman's health, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape of incest. In case of risk to the woman's life after fetal viability, the pregnancy may also be interrupted by attempting a live birth.
The 2014 San Marino local elections were held on 30 November to elect the mayors and the councils of the 9 municipalities of San Marino. Overall turnout was 44.9%.
The 2009 San Marino local elections were held on 7 June to elect the mayors and the councils of the nine municipalities of San Marino. Overall turnout was 55.1%. The election in the City of San Marino was declared invalid, as it didn't reach the turnout quorum. Therefore, a second election was held on 29 November.
The 2004 San Marino local elections were held on 18 April to elect the mayor and the council of the municipalities of Borgo Maggiore, in San Marino, as the 2003 Sammarinese local elections was declared invalid, as the turnout quorum was not reached. Turnout in this election was 61.5%.
The 2003 San Marino local elections were held on 30 November to elect the mayors and the councils of the nine municipalities of San Marino. Overall turnout was 55.4%. The election in Borgo Maggiore was declared invalid, as the turnout quorum was not reached. Therefore, a second election was held on 18 April 2004.
The 1999 San Marino local elections were held on 13 June to elect the mayors and the councils of Chiesanuova, the City of San Marino and Domagnano, in San Marino. Overall turnout was 66.1%.
The 1998 San Marino local elections were held on 13 December to elect the mayors and the councils of Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Faetano, Fiorentino and Serravalle in San Marino. Overall turnout was 64.0%.
The 1997 San Marino local elections were held on 14 December to elect the mayor and the council of Montegiardino in San Marino. Turnout was 81.8%.
General elections were held in San Marino on 8 December 2019.
A constitutional referendum about the reduction of the size of the Italian Parliament was held in Italy on 20 and 21 September 2020. Initially scheduled to be held on 29 March, the referendum was postponed following the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Italy and subsequent lockdown.
Elena Tonnini is a politician from the RETE Movement of San Marino who has served as the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs, Civil Service, Institutional Affairs and Relations with the Municipalities since January 2020.
Karen Pruccoli is an entrepreneur and human rights activist from San Marino. A co-founder of the Union of San Marino Women, in 2021 she was president of the organisation. That year, San Marino legalised abortion, with Pruccoli leading the pro-choice 'Yes' campaign in the referendum. As an entrepreneur, Pruccoli founded a natural cosmetics company, Fantastika, which only employs women.
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