The PSD (Party of Socialists and Democrats) has spoken out on the security measures for Rallylegend, acknowledging the event’s value for San Marino while calling for a review of its scale, organization and management. The decree adopted by the Government is seen as a necessary step, but one that must be accompanied by adequate resources and controls. At the heart of the party’s position are the conditions faced by residents, the concerns of business operators, and a call for transparency regarding the event’s finances.
“Rallylegend is an extraordinary event that has carried San Marino’s name around the world, drawing tens of thousands of enthusiasts and generating significant economic opportunities. The PSD recognizes its value and wants it to continue being held in our Republic,” reads the statement from the Party of Socialists and Democrats.
However, the party raises the issue of the relationship between the size of the crowds and the capacity of San Marino’s security apparatus. “Nearly one hundred thousand attendees in a country of 34,000 residents represent an enormous public order challenge, even before considering sporting organization. And San Marino does not have a public order apparatus comparable to what an event of this scale would require.”
Within this framework, the PSD supports the Government’s decision to act in order to prevent and discourage the behaviors that in recent years have created the most dangerous situations. The measure, however, is not considered a definitive solution.
“It is a necessary step, one that also takes into account some of the concerns the PSD had already raised a year ago. But it cannot be considered the definitive solution. Bans can reduce risks, but they cannot replace personnel, equipment, controls and a security organization suited to the scale Rallylegend has now reached.”
One part of the statement addresses the impact on the daily lives of those living in the areas affected by the event. “And when this balance breaks down, it is residents who pay the price first: families who, for days, must live with closed streets, noise, litter, uncivil behavior and situations that, in some areas, have by now produced understandable exasperation. Those who live in these areas cannot be made to feel like guests in their own homes.”
The PSD also acknowledges the concerns of business operators regarding the restrictions introduced, but sets out a clear order of priorities. “These are legitimate interests and deserve to be heard. But the order of priorities cannot be reversed: safety, public order and the livability of the area must come first; revenues come after.”
Regarding the possibility of relocating the event, the party is calling for discussions with the organizers to take place free of pressure. “It is understandable that stricter rules might draw criticism and calls for change. Less understandable is that the very request for greater guarantees and safety should become a reason to raise the prospect of moving the event elsewhere.”
“San Marino has given a great deal to Rallylegend, and Rallylegend has given a great deal to San Marino. Precisely for this reason, the relationship must be a mature one, built on mutual respect rather than ultimatums. Not least because the idea that an event of this scale, with the same characteristics but fewer constraints, could be organized elsewhere remains entirely unproven.”
Finally, the statement raises the issue of financial transparency, linking it to public contributions and the state resources employed for the event. “It is therefore legitimate to ask for a comprehensive accounting: how much the organization earns, how much it spends, what costs are actually borne by the community, and what the economic and fiscal returns are for the country. Estimates of attendance figures and statements about economic benefits are not enough. Verifiable numbers are needed, to understand whether the current model is truly sustainable and how costs and responsibilities should be fairly distributed.”
The PSD thus reaffirms its wish to keep Rallylegend in San Marino, while calling for a rethink of the event’s organizational model. “We want this event to continue to be a source of pride. To achieve that, however, its scale, organization and security management need to be seriously reconsidered. Because the success of a major event is not measured only by the number of spectators or by revenue, but also by the respect it shows for the country that hosts it.”
