Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset visited San Marino to attend the investiture ceremony of the Captains Regent. The Captains Regent of San Marino, who serve as the country's heads of state, are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council. This centuries-old institution, dating back to the 13th century, is a distinctive feature of San Marino's constitutional system and reflects its long-standing democratic traditions.
As official speaker for the ceremony, he highlighted the country's rich heritage alongside its present-day role as a strong democracy committed to Council of Europe values. Speaking at the ceremony held at Palazzo Pubblico, San Marino's city hall, he stressed the importance of reinforcing democratic resilience across Europe:
"What Europe needs in this moment of rupture is a form of security grounded in democracy and in established, predictable rules," he said.
During his visit from 31 March to 1 April, the Secretary General met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Luca Beccari, as well as the outgoing Captains Regent Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, as well as the incoming Captains Regent, Alice Mina - until now a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - and Vladimiro Selva. He congratulated them on their appointment.
San Marino, a member of the Council of Europe since 1988 - and the world's oldest republic - represents a unique model of democracy based on civic autonomy and self-government, with a firm belief in multilateral cooperation. The visit also underscored the close and longstanding cooperation between San Marino and the Council of Europe.
Secretary General Alain Berset
San Marino and the Council of Europe
