The autonomist South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP, Südtiroler Volkspartei) once again secured the most votes in Alto Adige/South Tyrol, the German-majority region of Italy. The local elections were held this past weekend, and the results highlighted a complex political landscape with both continuity and challenge for the SVP.
Official tallies show the SVP dipping to a historic low in terms of broad support, capturing only 34.5% of the vote. That figure marks a seven-point drop from the last election cycle five years earlier and represents the worst performance since 1948. Notably, the party has never before fallen below the 40 percent threshold in modern elections.
Right-wing and anti-vaccine voices
The ballot also reflected growing political fragmentation. Independentist lists such as Südtiroler Freiheit, along with right-wing factions like Fratelli d’Italia, and even echoes of former paramilitary groups, have increased their presence in the provincial council. Among the more controversial figures cited is Jürgen Wirth Anderlan, whose platform contains anti-vaccine rhetoric and strong anti-immigrant statements. These strands illustrate a broader trend toward diverse and polarized viewpoints competing for regional influence.
SVP secretary Philipp Achammer acknowledged the setback, saying, We lost. That’s for sure. We lost two seats, going from 15 to 13, but the loss was expected in some respects. The shift underscores a broader recalibration in local voter priorities. The incumbent governor, Arno Kompatscher, also faced a sharp decrease in support, slipping from 68,210 votes in the previous election to 58,771 in the latest cycle, signaling a demand for new approaches even within the dominant party framework.
Separatist currents
The results complicate the party’s traditional grip on governance in a province known for its distinct constitutional status. The question now is how to assemble a stable governing coalition when the provincial council will include twelve parties, a historically high number. Achammer described the situation candidly, saying that while SVP remains the largest party, achieving lasting stability will be a demanding task. The emergence of multiple blocs will test the ability to broker agreements across a wide spectrum of interests.
South Tyrol is not a typical region. It sits at the crossroads of European history and economic vitality, with a legacy that includes a period of Austrian rule until the post-World War I settlements. In the modern era, the province has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and economic strength, yet it faces ongoing questions about identity, language rights, and regional governance. The political environment continues to evolve as new actors gain traction and traditional coalitions are reevaluated in light of shifting public sentiment.
As the administration navigates this transitional moment, the emphasis will be on balancing regional autonomy with practical governance. The presence of diverse parties and the persistence of regionalist sentiments will shape policy discussions on language protections, cross-border trade, infrastructure investment, and social services. The province’s history and economic footprint underscore the importance of pragmatic leadership capable of uniting disparate voices toward common regional goals.