South Tyrol’s new center-right five-party government has been in power since Thursday. The strongest force, the Christian Democratic South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) with Governor Arno Kompatscher, will in the future cooperate with three right-wing parties (South Tyrolean Freedom Party, Fratelli d’Italia and Lega) and with the small conservative citizens. list La Civica. Although the opposition sees this as a “bow to Rome,” the SVP expects the alliance to make concessions on its demands for autonomy. There is plenty of criticism from the public. Some accuse Kompatscher of a “pact with the devil”.
Kompatscher has been in power since 2014 and the 52-year-old is entering his third and final term in office. “We stay where we are. We are not going to the right.”
Kompatscher: ‘We have not sold our soul’
And it is certainly not a pact with the devil, Kompatscher emphasized on Thursday in his speech at the presentation of the government program. And added: “We have not sold our souls. And we won’t do that.”
“Community of Convenience”
Kompatscher spoke of a ‘community of convenience’ from which there was virtually no escape due to the election results and the constitution. It could also be an advantage to govern with two parties that are also in power in Rome.
The loss of autonomy must be reversed
Kompatscher especially emphasized the importance of autonomy and its expansion, as planned in the government program. This is “the basis for successful government action.” It is a bridge between the language groups, but also an economic instrument that ensures prosperity in the country. A proposal for a new state law has therefore been drawn up, which should also undo any loss of autonomy that has occurred.
„Neofascists in government
The opposition, on the other hand, accused the re-elected governor in the state parliament of allowing himself to be blackmailed from Rome. Kompatscher and the ‘collective party’ SVP were accused, among other things, of throwing their values overboard with the coalition they had put together, bringing ‘neofascists’ into the government and negotiating for posts.
SVP only 34.5 percent
The mood in the holiday region with its 530,000 inhabitants is certainly tense. Since the new coalition emerged with only 34.5 percent after the SVP’s election defeat in the autumn, there have been several protest marches. Even a cardboard coffin with the initials SVP was carried through the capital Bolzano. There were open letters from art and science warning against “blatant neo-fascist politics”.
A novelty in the history of South Tyrol
The SVP needed two more coalition partners to gain a majority in the state parliament or at least a German-speaking partner. A novelty in South Tyrolean history. Ultimately, only the League ruled. In any case, it is mandatory that an Italian-speaking party (or its representatives) be represented in a state government.
The state government consists of eleven members
After difficult negotiations, the five-party alliance was finally reached in mid-January. Until recently, there was a fierce tug-of-war over the number and size of Italian-speaking state councilors in the government. Ultimately, agreement was reached on a cabinet of eleven members. The South Tyrolean Freedom Party and the Italian parties Fratelli d’Italia and Lega each have a state councilor. However, the small citizen list La Civica is not represented in the state government.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
