Leader Eva Klotz Split from Union for South Tyrol | Founded May 2007 Membership (2012) 2,800 | |
Headquarters St. Josef am See, 74
39052 Kaltern an der Weinstraße (BZ) Youth wing Young South Tyrolean Freedom | ||
The South Tyrolean Freedom (German: Süd-Tiroler Freiheit, STF), officially South Tyrolean Freedom – Free Alliance for Tyrol (Süd-Tiroler Freiheit – Freies Bündnis für Tirol), is a separatist and national-conservative political party active in South Tyrol, where it seeks to represent the German-speaking population. The party is committed to the South Tyrolean secessionist movement, which entails secession of the Province from Italy and its reunification with the State of Tyrol within Austria.
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History
The South Tyrolean Freedom emerged as a split from the Union for South Tyrol (UfS) in May 2007. 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. A sign with the same content was set up at the Brenner Pass border, at last in June 2008.
In April 2009 the STF became a full member of the European Free Alliance, a pan-European organization of regionalist 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.
In the 2013 provincial election the STF won 7.2%, its record high so far, resulting in three provincial councillors.
In November 2014 Klotz, who had served in the Provincial Council for 31 consecutive years, announced her resignation from the assembly in order to take care of her husband, who was severely ill.
Ideology
The STF sees itself as a "liberal-patriotic" party aimed at protecting the German-speaking population of South Tyrol. The party claims South Tyroleans' right to self-determination and to conduct a referendum in order to decide whether they want to be part of Italy or the Austrian state of Tyrol. The party programme also emphasizes the protection of the environment, the defense of family values, a moderately liberal economic policy and the concept of Europe of the regions.