Model for Europe? South Tyrol with a new type of center-right government
Published: Wednesday, Jan 31st 2024, 19:40
Updated At: Wednesday, Jan 31st 2024, 19:40
Back to Live Feed
These are special days in South Tyrol. Firstly, because the predominantly German-speaking province in the north of Italy can celebrate a new hero: Tennis pro Jannik Sinner from the mountain village of Sesto, who won the Australian Open at the weekend and is now at the start of a global career at the age of 22. And then there is also a turning point in national politics: with a new government that is bigger and further to the right than ever before. Following the end of its decades-long dominance, the Christian Democratic South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) has allied itself with three parties from the right-wing camp. An omen for other regions in Europe?
The mood in the vacation region with its 530,000 inhabitants is certainly tense. Since the new coalition emerged following the election defeat of the previous "collective party" in the fall with only 34.5 percent, there have been several protest marches. Even a cardboard coffin bearing the initials of the SVP was carried through the capital Bolzano. There were warnings of "blatantly neo-fascist politics" from the arts and academia. Some accused the old and new head of government Arno Kompatscher of making a "pact with the devil".
On Wednesday, before the new ministers were to be elected, demonstrators once again marched in front of parliament. The debate in parliament then dragged on so long that the vote was postponed until Thursday evening.
Three partners from the right
The reason for the excitement is that the new coalition also includes parties, some of which are far to the right: the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with origins in post-fascism, the right-wing nationalist Lega of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini from the same party family as the AfD and the Freedom Party, which is close to the right-wing populist FPÖ from neighboring Austria. The smallest partner in the new five-party alliance is the conservative citizens' list La Civica.
The cooperation is also tricky because the SVP has always attached great importance to the demarcation to the right for historical reasons: After the First World War, South Tyrol and the neighboring province of Trentino (at that time: Welschtirol) were separated from Austria and awarded to Italy. The fascist dictator Benito Mussolini then had people from the south settled with the aim of "Italianization". German was banned in schools.
Beyond the firewall?
After the Second World War, it took decades for the South Tyroleans to fight for the statute in its current form following an initial autonomy statute in 1948. The SVP was a formative force in this process: this is another reason why comparisons should be made with caution. From a German perspective, however, the three right-wing SVP partners are probably quite close to the political "firewall" or already on the other side. Some even believe that the new alliance is roughly the same as if CSU Prime Minister Markus Söder in Bavaria not only had to get along with Hubert Aiwanger's Free Voters, but also with the AfD and a Bavarian branch of the FPÖ.
Head of government speaks of "community of purpose"
Kompatscher doesn't want to know anything about it. "The comparison is clearly misleading," says the 52-year-old to the German Press Agency. "We are staying where we are. We're not moving to the right." And it's certainly not a pact with the devil. "We haven't sold our soul. And we won't do that either." Kompatscher speaks of a "community of convenience", which there was practically no way around due to the election results and the constitution. Moreover, it could be an advantage to govern with two parties that are also in power in Rome. The opposition, on the other hand, accused him in parliament on Wednesday of having allowed himself to be blackmailed by Rome.
In fact, the autonomy statute stipulates that a party from the Italian language group must always be involved in the government. So even when the SVP was at its most dominant, it always had an Italian partner. What is new is that there are now three - and also that the SVP had to include another party from the German-speaking region for the first time. The center-center-right-right coalition (2M3R for short) now has 19 out of 35 seats in parliament. The cabinet has been increased from eight to eleven heads of department to ensure that everyone in the cabinet gets a post.
Kompatscher: No model for right-of-center governments
Kompatscher also rejects speculation that a model for governments far to the right of center is being tried out in South Tyrol, which could then also be applied in Germany or elsewhere. "Absolutely not. I oppose the idea that we are supposed to be the pioneer for something along these lines." The coalition agreement contains a clear yes to Europe and a clear no to any fascist ideology. "There is a clear red line," promises the SVP man. "If this goes in the wrong direction, the ripcord will be pulled." He will be under close scrutiny for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the country's new tennis hero is staying out of South Tyrolean politics. Sinner is back from Australia, but he still has no time for home. Instead, he had his photo taken in Rome embracing right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This Thursday, when the new five-party alliance gets to work in Bolzano, President Sergio Mattarella will also give him a big reception in the capital. South Tyrol will have to wait.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic