South Tyrolean Freedom
| South Tyrolean Freedom Süd-Tiroler Freiheit |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Eva Klotz |
| Founded | May 2007 |
| Split from | Union for South Tyrol |
| Headquarters | St. Josef am See, 74 39052 Kaltern an der Weinstraße (BZ) |
| Membership (2012) | 2,800[1] |
| Ideology | German minority politics, National conservatism, Separatism |
| International affiliation | none |
| European affiliation | European Free Alliance |
| European Parliament group | no MEPs |
| Chamber of Deputies |
0 / 630
|
| Senate |
0 / 315
|
| European Parliament |
0 / 73
|
| Provincial Council |
2 / 35
|
| Website | |
| http://www.suedtiroler-freiheit.com | |
|
Politics of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol |
|
The South Tyrolean Freedom (German: Süd-Tiroler Freiheit, STF) is a separatist[2]German-speaking political party active in South Tyrol committed to the self-determination of the province from Italy and its reunification with the state of Tyrol within Austria.
History
The South Tyrolean Freedom emerged as a split from the Union for South Tyrol (UfS) in May 2007.[3] On 8 June 2007 it was notarially founded in Brixen. The founding members were Herbert Campidell, Eva Klotz, Sven Knoll, Reinhold Ladurner, Roland Lang, Sepp Mitterhofer, Werner Thaler and Dietmar Zwerger.
In the summer of 2007 the party presented a provocative poster campaign with the slogan "South Tyrol is not Italy" and the Austrian flag as background.[4] A sign with the same content was set up at the Brenner Pass border, at last in June 2008.[5]
Since April 2009 the STF is full member of the European Free Alliance, the pan-European organization of regionalist political parties. Gudrun Kofler from the STF Youth (Junge Süd-Tiroler Freiheit) was elected as Vice President of the EFA Youth.
In January 2012 it was reported that the party had reached 2,800 members, a lot more than UfS in its best days.[1]
Ideology
The STF presents itself as a "liberal-patriotic" party advocating the protection of the German-speaking population of South Tyrol. The party claims the right to self-determination for South Tyrol and the right to conduct a referendum in which South Tyroleans would decide whether they want to be part of Italy or the Austrian state of Tyrol. The party program also emphasizes the protection of the environment, the defense of family values, a moderately liberal economic policy and the Europe of the regions.[6]
Popular support
In the 2008 provincial election the party won 4.9% of the vote (more than two thirds of the vote of UfS in 2003) and two provincial deputies, while UfS managed to win 2.3% of the vote and one deputy.
Leadership
- Leadership (Landesleitung): Eva Klotz / Sven Knoll / Werner Thaler / Roland Lang / Georg Karl Hofer (2007–present)
- Spokesman: Werner Thaler (2007–present)
References
- ^ a b http://www.lindipendenza.com/eva-klotz/
- ^ Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
- ^ http://www.stol.it/nachrichten/artikel.asp?KatID=fa&ArtID=93075
- ^ http://www.suedstern.org/data/press/Dolomiten_140707.pdf
- ^ http://www.vienna.at/news/chronik/artikel/umstrittene-sued-tirol-tafel-wieder-am-brenner-aufgestellt/cn/news-20080615-03201758
- ^ http://www.suedtiroler-freiheit.com/content/view/15/28/
External links
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