We report in full the remarks made by Guerrino Zanotti (Libera) during the communications item in the Grand and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale).
Guerrino Zanotti (Libera): I too would like to begin by thanking Their Excellencies for the thoughtful address with which they opened this Council session. I found the image of the grandfather and grandson looking at the moon particularly effective. Even though it’s a simple image, I believe that’s precisely why it works so well. It speaks of time, of what we leave behind for those who come after us, and of what they will be able to see. Because — and here I try to pick up the thread — to look at the moon, you need a clear sky. Their Excellencies pointed to a number of issues that it is our task to address in order to achieve that clarity. We can think of them, ideally, as a working agenda.
The first is the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union. It is a historic step, and as many have already said today during this communications session: this is where we start. It brings real opportunities, but also a heavy workload, particularly for our institutions — starting with this Grand and General Council. We must prove ourselves equal to the task.
The second is international law. Their Excellencies reminded us of its value and, I would add, of how often it has been trampled upon in recent years. For a small country like ours, this is not an abstract issue: it is our insurance policy for the future. We must therefore be present in every multilateral forum, defending the universality of that law and supporting the institutions that safeguard it. We must speak out clearly whenever it is violated, no matter by whom.
Then there is the sky closer to home. Their Excellencies spoke of purchasing power that keeps shrinking, unfortunately, for far too many families, and of the growing difficulty in finding housing. These, Excellencies, are the clouds — and if we fail to address them, the grandfather and grandson will struggle to see the moon.
I want to dwell in particular on the housing issue, which is, among other things, extremely topical. We see it: it is bringing hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets across much of Europe these days. I believe this is an area where we need to make a real leap forward. Important measures were adopted last year, and these are, of course, entirely positive: bonuses, incentives and support schemes that help those who are still able to remain in the market. The problem is that, for many, the market today is an increasingly difficult place to stay in.
We must be honest with ourselves: for too many years, the public sector has completely withdrawn from this role, leaving housing entirely to the market — and the market does what it knows how to do, which is respond to those who can pay. It is worth citing a reflection that, interestingly, does not come from politics. Norman Foster, whom we know well and who has also worked with San Marino, is one of the most renowned architects in the world. He is certainly no ideologue — he is a man of the trade. In a public address, he put the issue very clearly: over recent decades, the management and construction of housing have passed almost entirely into the hands of the private market. It therefore becomes essential to find a better balance, one in which the State returns to playing a leading role in guaranteeing decent housing for those who, unfortunately, cannot afford it on the open market. I find this a thoroughly relevant point, because it comes from someone who knows how to build houses. It tells us that the problem is not that we don’t know how to do it: the problem is whether we actually want to.
That is why I propose we begin seriously considering a plan for public and social housing. Not slogans, but a genuine plan: housing to be placed on the market at controlled prices, with the public sector once again playing its part. Alongside this, a boost for housing cooperatives, which in the past provided concrete answers for many families and which today have been left to fend for themselves. Clearly, this is not something easily implemented. It requires land, resources, clear rules and firm timelines — but in the meantime, we must decide that this is a priority and begin immediately, not years from now.
Their Excellencies also touched on another subject that is anything but poetic, yet concerns us directly: how we write our laws. Though, in all fairness, in this case it is primarily the Congress of State that should be called upon, since legislative initiative comes almost exclusively from the executive. To give an example — and to address precisely what Their Excellencies were, in a way, flagging — whenever we are faced with a single clause that references and amends four different provisions along with their subsequent amendments, I think we must ask ourselves who is actually able to understand that piece of legislation. The case is highly topical: there is a decree we will shortly need to ratify. Perhaps those of us who work in this field, with some effort and research, manage to grasp its meaning. But a citizen, a craftsman, a small business owner — anyone approaching it — would, I believe, find it extremely difficult to understand. A law that cannot be read and understood cannot reasonably be expected to be respected, nor, for that matter, properly enforced. This is not a matter of style, but a matter of democracy.
Excellencies, you are right: this layering of regulations must be stopped. We now even have a venue to discuss these matters. The Special Commission for Institutional Reforms has already begun considering how consolidated legislative texts should be drafted and approved. At this point, I believe action leading to the adoption of consolidated texts has become quite urgent. This is not a mere technical exercise — it is the condition for making our laws readable again.
In closing: Their Excellencies have given us a beautiful image and a clear task. The agreement with Europe is a concrete hope. International law is our responsibility. Housing and purchasing power are the proof of how serious we are. Sound politics and clear laws are how we make ourselves understood by those who elected us. If we get these things right, we will probably let that grandfather and that child see the moon after all.
