Des in San Marino, the statements of the opposition parliamentarians
The draft law on the Special Economic District was illustrated this morning in San Marino during the January session of the Great and General Council of San Marino.
Here’s how they expressed themselves, according to the report of San Marino press agencyopposition MPs on the draft law “Discipline of the economic district with special taxation”.
Giuseppe Maria Morganti (free): “The secretary says that Des is a practice present in many parts of the world. Indeed, it can be seen that there are several of these special economic zones, but the characteristics are far from those proposed in this draft law. Last but not least, the problem raised by councilor Valentini on non-domiciled tax residences which have a strategic value. We should then talk about the investor around whom the bill was built: a project is packaged around the needs of an entrepreneur. This scares, the thought of the ‘white knight’ who raises the fortunes of the Republic of San Marino is back in vogue. Tax residencies for non-domiciled residents is a problem. In this case we do not go through the Foreign Affairs Commission, but it is sufficient to go through the Gendarmerie and the manager of the Des. We will find ourselves having to interact with figures that we use and reside in our state for a maximum of 150 days, but on whom we have not made a decision, nor do we have the opportunity to evaluate their interests. Then there is the big problem of land use. When it comes to interventions on public areas, in fact, the question changes. We thank the finance and foreign affairs secretaries who invited us to talks to clarify our doubts. But the interests of this investor in state assets in the historic center need to be clarified. There are many things to say, especially on the private management of Des. We delegate the management of fundamental components of our territory to a private entity and strip the State of these prerogatives, we remove sovereignty. Instead, let the state manage and choose new businesses. Here the exact opposite occurs. And we will soon find ourselves in a demolished country”.
Alessandro Bevitori (Free): “We as Libera have also registered in the Finance Law the need to address this type of issue. If a hotel or restaurant closes, and there are several of them and it’s not that they close because the owners are tired or retire, it means that the system is not attractive. Well we have to intervene and we have been saying it for some time. But we believe this Des, as worded, is incorrect. Here they always give gifts and golden bridges to those who have to start a new business. Temporary residences are offered. It is the San Marino institutions that have to manage this thing here, we don’t want to attach ourselves to the person’s curriculum vitae, the critical elements are all in centralizing such power on one person. We even admit he’s the best person in the world, but concentrating such power on one person is dangerous. We have given willingness to face this PDL from a technical point of view, but we see that the majority and the government do not have this willingness to share this path together. We will judge what is brought forward. The very government that was supposed to save the Republic manages to put in place this unique bill which is this sale “.
Nicola Renzi (RF): “Two themes: what is Des and what can be the repercussions in our reality. And then an eminently political question that escapes no one, suggesting that behind the Des there are who knows what negotiations to form a new government. We have had the opportunity to meet twice with the Finance secretariat and we have reiterated the same things. We have represented with extreme clarity that Rf is certainly not a party opposed to investment projects in the country, even if they may be considered risky by some. But inside the Des we see clear dangers. We believe special attention is necessary which can be summarized in the same concerns listed by the councilor Pasquale Valentini, the first to intervene and a member of the Pdcs. The problem is that we contract the development of the country privately to a single entity. If someone then argues that Dex is the last card we have left before the disaster, this should lead us to be even more careful. There is no witch hunt. But it is evident to everyone that there is not a single line on investments carried out by the government: there are different projects that should be mediated and become a country development project in an integrated manner. I only ask for one thing: let’s not waste time, each councilor saying ‘let’s do it or let’s not do it in a month’. Tell us if you are willing to vote on the draft as it is, at first reading or not”.
Guerrino Zanotti (Free): “The opposition had asked for a doubling of the time in this debate because more in-depth analysis is needed. unfortunately in Udp the request was not accepted and we are limited to an intervention of 6 minutes. Those who preceded me, across the board, have highlighted that there are fears and doubts with respect to the legislative text. Let’s leave aside the talk about the government that has put the public finances in order and is now looking at an intervention for economic development: if it has started to recover accounts with 300 million in debt, we’re fine. But let’s look to the future, with this development project which in practice outsources the most important decisions and management of the District to a third party. And besides this project, no others come forward and we entrust him with the fate of our future. We have been told that the Des was born on the proposal of an entrepreneur and it is not the opposition that personalizes the debate. It is also believed that the passage to the Finance Commission is a form of guarantee, I think in reality it is not at all. Indeed it is another element of concern”.
Marica Montemaggi (Free): “Somewhat heterogeneous positions are coming forward. For this Libera also from the Budget has tried in every way to stop the council process of this PDL, just to dissect issues and contents and consequences of a project like this. It is true that there are districts in the world, but in a country like ours it assumes enormous importance. We do not agree that whoever will hold concessionary power is a person or a company and it will not be the State. For us it means selling off sovereignty. For us, yes to development, but one that is sustainable and we are not satisfied with someone who can rid us of some concrete monster, and then leave us with a cathedral of recovered but empty monsters. We are not convinced by the principle of non-competition and we invite the categories to this discussion. We do not consider this project fair for our economic fabric and we are not satisfied with having a limited vision, when we know that it was not born as a coalition project, but was born around someone who came here and for whom this district was tailored for him. We believe there is much more to do starting from the protection of our businesses”.
Eva Guidi (Free): “Basically, the Des is a tool used in particular also for the revitalization of particularly depressed areas, to create specialized product districts. It is brought here as a development bill. Finally we talk about development, but if after 3 years it is the only real project carried out by the government, while others have not been, I would believe that in any case on the part relating to development there is a relative failure of the government and the majority. And I say this by emphasizing that abundant use has been made of the funds that would have been necessary to promote this development. I am referring to the 300 million of debt, a large part of which has been supported by the banking system. It is clear that a use of resources in this way has removed what should have been a strong meaning of the debt action. For a project of this kind, a comparison with the country, with trade associations and trade unions is needed, because it is a systemic project. Strong perplexities remain, in particular due to the fact that the Des, as presented in the article, gives the impression there is a transfer of sovereignty and power into the hands of an entrepreneur, the State is deprived of the control action that should be the first concern”.
Andrea Zafferani (RF): “Comparisons have been made with what happens outside the country, where there are various Special Economic Zones almost always linked to territorial areas, in these cases it concerns the whole country and would create a very peculiar situation. Then there is the aspect of harmonization with existing rules with the EU, but above all in relations with the neighboring country, with respect to which notes are highlighted. I admit that I have some too. The secretary has reassured several times in the meetings on this point, but nothing has been seen in writing. On the merits: the topic is related to a development project that is missing. But I see nothing wrong with deciding that a State makes a law where it says that it creates special tax conditions for investments of a certain importance it is possible to define what the importance and area of the relevant investments are can be those above the threshold as has been indicated in the law and it says: whoever has these characteristics to make investments has a special tax treatment. It doesn’t shock me, it’s a sector law, it is advertised abroad and the rules become the same for everyone. Someone mentioned San Marino Innovation, for technology companies there is a specific tax treatment that is publicized externally. Nothing wrong. The big problem is the way it is implemented: here it is a private entity who decides who can settle in the Des and whether or not they can have tax residence. The finance fee is not a guarantee as it may be subject to pressure from the investor. If it were said that a management committee is created, as in other areas, it cannot be a private individual who decides who can settle in the Des, but must be under public control. I expect a reflection not so much on the idea, but on the way”.
Luca Boschi (Free): “It is a pleasure today to deny transversal positions between the parties. Those who support it present it as ‘the’ development project. This is the first real development project that the government carries out. Some time ago the secretary Gatti was talking about the role of the General Manager of a bank and he convinced me that, faced with a problem, the General Manager brings several solutions to the board of directors, so that there is time to choose. This is missing here, there is only one project and times are very tight. This is a legal project that did not occur to the government which then went to look for an entrepreneur. Here an entrepreneur went to look for a government that would allow him to carry out one of his projects. Today we have to express ourselves on this pdl which brings us so many doubts. The first is the defense of the lintel of the country, sovereignty. Let’s create a macro-referee that has 51% of the works created. This is not a white knight, but a prince. And he scares us. Then the discourse of Europe: we are told that Europe is fine with the discourse on residences, but are we sure that he understood perfectly?”.
Vladimiro Selva (free): “This government embraces this element as the only new element to be carried forward. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad project because it comes from outside, that’s not to say, there may be positive aspects. Certainly, we see that our State writes measures on external investors who have strong interests in San Marino, making available important areas of the historic center, jewels that are cyclically made available to investors – I am referring to the Antica quarry and the quarry of the Umbrians. Areas of enormous interest and must be treated in the interest of the community, not of individuals who come to San Marino to do their own thing. Other less valuable areas – we talked about the former Symbol, the former Acquaviva Tannery, buildings that have become eco-monsters – if we talk about those, then let’s write them down and not remain vague. Today this text appears to be the viaticum for improper use and in favor of a few of our jewels”.