South Tyrolean People's Party

{{Infobox political party

| colorcode = {{Political party data|color}}

| name = South Tyrolean People's Party

| native_name = Südtiroler Volkspartei

| logo = Südtiroler Volksparte Logo.svg

| leader1_title = Chairman

| leader1_name = Dieter Steger

| leader2_title = Secretary

| leader2_name = Harald Stauder

| foundation = {{start date and age|1945|05|08|df=y}}{{cite book|author=Rolf Steininger|title=South Tyrol: A Minority Conflict of the Twentieth Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UP8oyC24Xu8C&pg=PA75|access-date=24 July 2013|year=2003|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-1-4128-3482-7|page=75}}

| dissolution =

| newspaper = ZIS

| youth_wing = Junge Generation

| headquarters = Brennerstraße 7/A, Bolzano

| membership_year = 2015

| membership = 40,000{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/bolzano/cronaca/2015/12/29/news/tessere-delusione-svp-meno-di-40-mila-iscritti-1.12693040|title=Tessere, delusione Svp Meno di 40 mila iscritti|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915161031/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/bolzano/cronaca/2015/12/29/news/tessere-delusione-svp-meno-di-40-mila-iscritti-1.12693040|archive-date=15 September 2017|url-status=dead}}

| ideology = {{ublist|class = nowrap

| Regionalism

| German and Ladin minority interests

| Christian democracy

| Social democracy (minority)

}}

| position = Centre{{cite book|author=Davide Vampa|title=The Regional Politics of Welfare in Italy, Spain and Great Britain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SkgWDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|year=2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-39007-9|page=61}}

| predecessor = Deutscher Verband
(not legal predecessor)

| national =

| european = European People's Party

| europarl = European People's Party

| seats1_title = Chamber of Deputies

| seats1 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}

| seats2_title = Senate

| seats2 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}

| seats3_title = European Parliament

| seats3 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}

| seats4_title = Landtag of South Tyrol

| seats4 = {{Composition bar|13|35|hex={{party color|South Tyrolean People's Party}}}}

| seats5_title = Conference of Regions

| seats5 = {{composition bar|1|21|hex={{party color|South Tyrolean People's Party}}}}

| website = {{Political party data|website}}

| colors = {{Color box|#231F20|border=darkgray}} Black {{Color box|#E7114F|border=darkgray}} Red

| country = Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol

}}

The South Tyrolean People's Party ({{langx|de|Südtiroler Volkspartei}}, SVP) is a regionalist{{cite book|author=Guy Puzey|chapter=Two-Way Traffic: How Linguistic Landscapes Reflect and Influence the Politics of Language|editor1=Durk Gorter|editor2=Heiko F. Marten|editor3=Luk Van Mensel|title=Minority Languages in the Linguistic Landscape|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uFBE656MBMQC&pg=PA137|year=2012|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-27244-6|page=137}}{{cite book|author=Günther Pallaver|chapter=The Südtiroler Volkspartei: Success through conflict, failure through consensus|editor1=Oscar Mazzoleni|editor2=Sean Mueller|title=Regionalist Parties in Western Europe: Dimensions of Success|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aiolDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-06895-2|pages=107–134}} and mostly Christian-democratic political party in South Tyrol, an autonomous province with a German-speaking majority in northern Italy. Dieter Steger has been party leader since 2024, while party member Arno Kompatscher has been governor of South Tyrol since 2014.

Founded on 8 May 1945, the SVP has roots in the Deutscher Verband, a confederation of German-speaking parties formed in 1919 after the annexation of South Tyrol by Italy, which shared many of the same leading figures as the early SVP. An ethnic catch-all party,{{cite book |author=Günther Pallaver|chapter=South Tyrol's Consociational Democracy: Between Political Claim and Social Reality |editor1=Jens Woelk |editor2=Francesco Palermo |editor3=Joseph Marko |title=Tolerance Through Law: Self Governance and Group Rights In South Tyrol|url=https://archive.org/details/tolerancethrough00woel|url-access=limited|year=2008|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=978-90-04-16302-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tolerancethrough00woel/page/n319 305], 309}}{{cite book|author=David Lublin|title=Minority Rules: Electoral Systems, Decentralization, and Ethnoregional Party Success|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Av-KBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA229|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-994884-0|page=229}}{{cite book|author=K. Beyme|title=Transition to Democracy in Eastern Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFqCDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA59|year=1996|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-0-230-37433-1|page=59}} the SVP is aimed at representing South Tyrol's German-speaking population, as well as Ladin speakers.{{cn|date=July 2024}} It is mainly Christian-democratic,{{cite book|author1=Maurizio Cotta|author2=Luca Verzichelli|title=Political Institutions in Italy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-FAZHBDqggC&pg=PA40|access-date=16 July 2013|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-928470-2|page=40}} but nevertheless quite diverse, including conservatives, liberals and social democrats.{{Citation |first=Günther |last=Pallaver |title=Südtirols politische Parteien 1945-2005 |work=Die Region Trentino-Südtirol im 20. Jahrhundert — 1: Politik und Institutionen |language=de |year=2007 |page=610 |url=http://www.uibk.ac.at/politikwissenschaft/team/homepage-mitarbeiter/webpage-guenther-pallaver/pdf/pallaver_591-628_tedesco.pdf |access-date=14 February 2015 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305152012/https://www.uibk.ac.at/politikwissenschaft/team/homepage-mitarbeiter/webpage-guenther-pallaver/pdf/pallaver_591-628_tedesco.pdf |url-status=dead }} or {{Citation |first=Günther |last=Pallaver |title=I partiti politici in Alto Adige dal 1945 al 2005 |work=La Regione Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol nel XX secolo — I: Politica e Istituzioni |language=it |year=2007 |page=580 |url=http://www.uibk.ac.at/politikwissenschaft/team/homepage-mitarbeiter/webpage-guenther-pallaver/pdf/pallaver_561-600.pdf |access-date=14 February 2015 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100457/https://www.uibk.ac.at/politikwissenschaft/team/homepage-mitarbeiter/webpage-guenther-pallaver/pdf/pallaver_561-600.pdf |url-status=dead }} The party also gives special attention to the interests of farmers, which make up a good deal of its electorate, especially in Alpine valleys.

From 1948 to 2013, the party retained an absolute majority in the Landtag of South Tyrol (Provincial Council). Its best result was 67.8% in the 1948 provincial election, its worst 34.5% in the 2023 provincial election. The SVP had a long-lasting alliance with Christian Democracy (plus the Italian Democratic Socialist Party or the Italian Socialist Party) and, since 1994, with some of its successor parties, including the Italian People's Party and the Democratic Union of Alto Adige, as well as the Democratic Party of the Left and, later, the Democrats of the Left and the Democratic Party. That coalition 25 years, until the party chose to team up with Lega Alto Adige Südtirol, local section of Lega Nord / Lega, in 2019. The coalition was enlarged to the Brothers of Italy, Die Freiheitlichen and The Civic List after the 2023 provincial election.

The SVP has a sister party in Trentino, the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (PATT). In the Italian Parliament the SVP teams up with other regionalist parties, notably including the Valdostan Union from Aosta Valley, while at the European level it is a member of the European People's Party (EPP){{cite web |title=EPP - European People's Party - Parties & Partners |url=https://www.epp.eu/parties-and-partners |website=EPP - European People's Party |access-date=19 March 2021}} and has recently formed electoral pacts with Forza Italia, Italy's main EPP member.{{Citation |last=Rainews |first=Redazione di |title=Elezioni Europee, la Svp sceglie Forza Italia. E ci sarà anche il Patt |date=2019-02-19 |url=https://www.rainews.it/tgr/trento/video/2019/02/tnt-elezioni-europee-Svp-Forza-Italia-Patt-b221256e-a0b3-4b6d-9324-bacccec52f52.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |language=it}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/04/16/europee-accordo-forza-italia-svp-per-candidatura-dorfmann_59fc2ad6-70f2-4f06-8b6c-83b83fbea07f.html | title=Europee: Accordo Forza Italia-SVP per candidatura Dorfmann - Notizie - Ansa.it | date=16 April 2024 }}

Recent history

In 1989, Silvius Magnago, long-time SVP leader and governor of South Tyrol since 1960, handed his office to Luis Durnwalder, who would keep the post until 2013. Under Durnwalder's long reign, the SVP continued to be the largest party in the Province, garnering more than 50% of the vote in most elections, despite growing competition, chiefly from right-wing parties, i.e. the Union for South Tyrol and Die Freiheitlichen. Most importantly, Durnwalder managed to keep the party, often riven in internal disputes between opposing factions, united.

The SVP joined the European People's Party as an observer member in 1993{{cite book|author1=Thomas Jansen|author2=Steven Van Hecke|title=At Europe's Service: The Origins and Evolution of the European People's Party|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXEA8XGdEb8C&pg=PA51|year= 2011|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-642-19414-6|page=51}} and became a full member later.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=EPP - European People's Party |url=https://www.epp.eu/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=EPP - European People's Party |language=en-US}}

In the 1996 and 2001 general election, the SVP was affiliated to The Olive Tree, on the Populars for Prodi list (led by the Italian People's Party) and on its own list, respectively.{{cite book|author=Hartmut Ullrich|chapter=Das politische System Italiens|editor=Wolfgang Ismayr|title=Die politischen Systeme Westeuropas|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c28J97iq4QoC&pg=PA662|year=2009|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-3-531-16200-3|page=662}}

=2003–2006 elections=

In the 2003 provincial election, the SVP won 55.6% of the vote and 21 provincial councillors out of 35. Durnwalder, governor since 1989, was returned for the fourth time in office, in coalition composed by the Democrats of the Left (DS) and the Democratic Union of Alto Adige.

In the 2004 European Parliament election, the SVP formed an electoral alliance with The Olive Tree joint list, including the DS. The party's share of votes fell below 50% for the first time, to 46.7% (–9.3pp from 1999, mainly because of the big win of the Greens (13.2%, +6.5%). However, Michl Ebner was elected MEP with more than 90,000 preferences and a Green, Sepp Kusstatscher (a former member of the internal left of the SVP), was elected too, the first time that the province had two MEPs.

Also in 2004, the centrist Siegfried Brugger, party chairman since 1992, stepped down and was replaced by Elmar Pichler Rolle, another centrist.

In the 2006 general election, the party was part of the victorious The Union centre-left coalition, and garnered four deputies, including one for its sister-party in Trentino, the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (PATT) – long-serving Siegfried Brugger, Karl Zeller, Johann Georg Widmann and PATT's Giacomo Bezzi –, and three senators – Helga Thaler Ausserhofer (representing the party's conservative wing), Oskar Peterlini (from the party's social-democratic faction) and Manfred Pinzger.

=2008–2009 elections=

In the 2008 general election, the party obtained 44.3% (–9.1pp from 2006 and –16.2pp from 2001), returning only two deputies, Siegfried Brugger and Karl Zeller. In the Senate election, thanks to the plurality voting system, the SVP got its three senators – Helga Thaler Ausserhofer, Oskar Peterlini and Manfred Pinzger – re-elected. The low number of elects in the Chamber was due both to the strong showing of Die Freiheitlichen (9.4%) on the right and the decision not to enter in alliance for the Chamber of Deputies either with the centre-left led by the Democratic Party (PD, 18.0%) – successor of the DS – or the centre-right led by The People of Freedom (PdL,16.0%).

In the 2008 provincial election, the SVP won 48.1% of the vote in the province (–7.5%), while its right-wing rivals (The Freedomites, South Tyrolean Freedom and Union for South Tyrol) gained a combined 21.5% of the vote. During the electoral campaign the party did not endorse its traditional counterparts in Trentino (the Daisy Civic List/Union for Trentino, UpT, and the PATT), in order not to hurt the relations with Lega Nord (LN), whose Trentino section, Lega Trentino, provided the opposition candidate, Sergio Divina, who was however defeated Despite rumors on an alliance with Lega Alto Adige Südtirol,{{Cite news |url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=281979 |title=La "Südtiroler" annusa laria |newspaper=IlGiornale.it |date=9 August 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Trocino |first=Alessandro |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/agosto/10/Ciampi_Brunetta_Alto_Adige_resti_co_9_080810009.shtml |title=Ciampi a Brunetta: l' Alto Adige resti autonomo |newspaper=Coriere della Sera |date=10 August 2008 |page=11}}http://espresso.repubblica.it/dettaglio-local/%C2%ABNoi-ci-siamo-ma-l-Svp-ora-si-smarchi%C2%BB/2036877{{dead link|date=February 2015}} after the election the SVP continued its alliance with the PD, which was the largest party in Trentino.

In April 2009, Richard Theiner, a member of the Arbeitnehmer ("employees") left-leaning wing,{{cite web|url=http://www.arbeitnehmer.bz.it/mandatareinnen.html?uc%5Bm%5D%3D73%26cHash%3D9a521faf96 |access-date=14 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202045207/http://www.arbeitnehmer.bz.it/mandatareinnen.html?uc%5Bm%5D=73&cHash=9a521faf96 |archive-date=2 February 2009 |title=Richard Theiner - Vita - Arbeitnehmer MandatarInnen - ArbeitnehmerInnen in der SVP }} was elected party chairman, due to an agreement between the opposing factions.{{Cite news |first=Maurizio |last=Dallago |url=http://ricerca.quotidianiespresso.it/altoadige/archivio/altoadige/2009/04/16/AZ4PO_AZ401.html |title=Theiner-Widmann, ok dagli Arbeitnehmer |newspaper=Alto Adige |date=16 April 2009}} Since then he was assisted by three deputy chairpersons: Thomas Widmann (Wirtschaft or "business" faction), Martha Stocker and Paola Bioc Gasser (representative of the Ladin section).[http://www.svpartei.org/de/partei/parteiorgane/ Südtiroler Volkspartei - SVP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210005423/http://www.svpartei.org/de/partei/parteiorgane/ |date=10 December 2011 }} The latter was replaced by Daniel Alfreider in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Daniel-Alfreider-neuer-SVP-Obmannstellvertreter |title=Daniel Alfreider neuer SVP-Obmannstellvertreter |date=24 March 2012 |publisher=Südtirol Online (stol.it) |access-date=26 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111165214/http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Daniel-Alfreider-neuer-SVP-Obmannstellvertreter |archive-date=11 November 2013 }} Widmann would later leave the party in 2023.

In the 2009 European Parliament election, due to the absence of its rival parties on the right, the SVP won 52.1% of the vote, electing Herbert Dorfmann.

=2013–2014 elections=

The SVP contested the 2013 general election as part of the centre-left coalition, Italy. Common Good.{{Cite news |first=Simone |last=Canettieri |url=http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/liste_simboli_presentati_viminale_record/notizie/244111.shtml |title=Liste, i simboli presentati sono 215: è record. Domani le esclusioni |newspaper=Il Messaggero |date=14 January 2013 |access-date=17 January 2013 |archive-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117144056/http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/liste_simboli_presentati_viminale_record/notizie/244111.shtml |url-status=dead }} Some long-serving MPs, notably Siegfried Brugger and Helga Thaler Ausserhofer, chose not to run for re-election and the party selected its candidates through a primary election.{{Cite news |url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/01/06/news/primarie-svp-i-risultati-vincono-zeller-e-berger-bocciato-ladinser-1.6304894 |title=Primarie Svp, i risultati: vincono Zeller e Berger. Bocciato Ladinser |newspaper=Alto Adige |date=7 January 2013 |access-date=3 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110003653/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/01/06/news/primarie-svp-i-risultati-vincono-zeller-e-berger-bocciato-ladinser-1.6304894 |archive-date=10 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In the general election, the SVP won 44.2% of the provincial vote{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/camera/scrutini/20130224/C060140000.htm |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228024920/http://elezioni.interno.it/camera/scrutini/20130224/C060140000.htm |archive-date=28 February 2013 |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali }} (–0.1pp from 2008) and, being part of the coalition winning the national majority premium, obtained five deputies: Albrecht Plangger, Renate Gebhard, Daniel Alfreider, PATT's Mauro Ottobre and Manfred Schullian.{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/camera/scrutini/20130224/C060000000.htm |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228024915/http://elezioni.interno.it/camera/scrutini/20130224/C060000000.htm |archive-date=28 February 2013 |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali }} For the Senate, the SVP ran alone in the constituencies of Merano and Brixen, winning both: in Merano outgoing deputy Karl Zeller took 53.5%,{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040050000.htm |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301054905/http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040050000.htm |archive-date=1 March 2013 |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali }} while in Brixen Hans Berger 55.4%.{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040060000.htm |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228050523/http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040060000.htm |archive-date=28 February 2013 |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali }} The SVP, in alliance with the PD, the UpT and the PATT, contributed also to the election of centre-left or autonomist candidates in the constituency of Bolzano and in those of Trentino.{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040000000.htm |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228035405/http://elezioni.interno.it/senato/scrutini/20130224/S040000000.htm |archive-date=28 February 2013 |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali }}

On 21 April, in a party primary, the SVP selected Arno Kompatscher as its head of the list for the 2013 provincial election, in place of Durnwalder. Kompatscher, 42-year-old mayor of Völs am Schlern, won 82.4% of the vote, while former SVP leader Elmar Pichler Rolle a mere 17.6%.{{Cite news |url=http://www.tageszeitung.it/2013/04/21/der-live-ticker/ |title=Arno Superstar |newspaper=Tageszeitung Online |date=21 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215182823/http://www.tageszeitung.it/2013/04/21/der-live-ticker/ |archive-date=15 February 2015 }}{{Cite news |url=http://orf.at/stories/2178119/ |title=Südtirol: Kompatscher SVP-Spitzenkandidat |work=News |publisher=ORF.at |date=21 April 2014}}

In the October election, the SVP won 45.7% of the vote in the province (–2.4pp) and lost its 65-year-long absolute majority. Both the German right-wing parties (whose combined share of the vote was 27.2%, +5.7%) and the Greens (8.7%, +2.9%) gained votes.{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.provincia.bz.it/|title=Beratende Landesvolksabstimmung 2016 - Autonome Provinz Bozen - Südtirol|website=elezioni.provincia.bz.it|access-date=25 November 2017}} Kompatscher obtained more than 80,000 preference votes{{cite web |url=http://elezioni.provincia.bz.it/prefvt_li_p7789_vg.htm |title=Elezioni provinciali 2013 – Provincia autonoma di Bolzano |access-date=28 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195404/http://elezioni.provincia.bz.it/prefvt_li_p7789_vg.htm |archive-date=29 October 2013 }} and was appointed governor, in coalition with the PD.{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/01/16/news/elezione-al-cardiopalma-per-la-giunta-kompatscher-1.8480186|title=Elezione al cardiopalma per la giunta Kompatscher - Cronaca - Alto Adige|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505114541/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/01/16/news/elezione-al-cardiopalma-per-la-giunta-kompatscher-1.8480186|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}}

In May 2014, Theiner was replaced by Philipp Achammer as party's chairman.{{cite web |url=http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Philipp-Achammer-ist-neuer-SVP-Obmann |title=Philipp Achammer ist neuer SVP-Obmann |date=3 May 2014 |publisher=Südtirol Online (stol.it) |access-date=4 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503195444/http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Philipp-Achammer-ist-neuer-SVP-Obmann |archive-date=3 May 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/05/03/news/svp-plebiscito-per-achammer-eletto-con-il-94-1.9152583|title=Svp, plebiscito per Achammer eletto con il 94 - Cronaca - Alto Adige|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505111431/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/05/03/news/svp-plebiscito-per-achammer-eletto-con-il-94-1.9152583|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}} Daniel Alfreider, Zeno Christanell and Angelika Wiedmer were appointed vice chairpersons.{{cite web |url=http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Die-Stellvertreter-Wiedmer-und-Christanell |title=Die Stellvertreter: Wiedmer und Christanell |date=3 May 2014 |publisher=Südtirol Online (stol.it) |access-date=4 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504021946/http://www.stol.it/Artikel/Politik-im-Ueberblick/Lokal/Die-Stellvertreter-Wiedmer-und-Christanell |archive-date=4 May 2014 }} Kompatscher and 28-year-old Achammer formed an entirely new leadership team and represented the party's renewal.{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/05/04/news/il-rito-della-purificazione-dopo-il-ciclone-vitalizi-1.9162339|title=Il rito della purificazione dopo il "ciclone" vitalizi|author=di Paolo Campostrini|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505114034/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2014/05/04/news/il-rito-della-purificazione-dopo-il-ciclone-vitalizi-1.9162339|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}}

In the 2014 European Parliament election, the SVP won 48.0% of the vote in the province and Dorfmann was re-elected to the European Parliament.

=2018–2019 elections=

The SVP, which again chose its candidates through a primary election,{{Cite web | url=http://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2018/01/21/elezioni-primarie-svp-con-poche-sorprese_c0b51f3c-4034-4d6e-ace8-e7147b8db2d8.html | title=Primarie SVP con poche sorprese - Trentino AA/S| date=21 January 2018}} contested the 2018 general election in a joint list with the PATT, within the centre-left coalition. The German right-wing parties did not participate, leading the SVP to obtain 48.8% of the vote in the province (+4.6pp). However, due to the new electoral system, it secured four deputies, including one for the PATT, and three senators. For the Chamber, Plangger was elected in Meran (61.2%),{{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI28120000000 | title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali | access-date=14 March 2018 | archive-date=8 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308184616/http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI28120000000 | url-status=dead }} Gebhard in Brixen (65.0%),{{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI28130000000 |title = Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali}} Schullian and PATT's Emanuela Rossini from the PR list.{{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/camera/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniCI28100000000 |title = Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali}} For the Senate, Julia Unterberger was elected in Merano (61.1%),{{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/senato/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniSI04120000000 |title = Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali}} Meinhard Durnwalder in Brixen (66.5%){{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/senato/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniSI04130000000 |title = Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali}} and Dieter Steger from the PR list.{{Cite web | url=http://elezioni.interno.gov.it/senato/scrutini/20180304/scrutiniSI04100000000 |title = Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali}} The SVP's support granted the election of PD's candidates for the Chamber and the Senate in Bolzano, but for the first time the centre-left lost badly in Trentino, where the LN – re-styled as "Lega" – became the largest party.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trentotoday.it/politica/elezioni-politiche-2018/eletti-collegio-trento-rovereto-pergine.html|title = Elezioni in Trentino: Tutti gli eletti uninominali sono del centrodestra, ecco i nuovi deputati e senatori}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.ildolomiti.it/politica/2018/elezioni-per-il-centrosinistra-e-lanno-zero-anche-in-trentino-punita-larroganza-di |title = Elezioni, per il centrosinistra è l'anno zero anche in Trentino: Punita l'arroganza di governo. Dellai a casa, Mellarini battuto da Conzatti|date = 5 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ladige.it/news/politica/2018/03/06/lega-record-voti-triplicati-mai-cos-alto-patt-fermo|title = Lega da record: Voti triplicati Mai così in alto. Patt fermo - Attualità | l'Adige.it| date=5 March 2018 }}

In the 2018 provincial election, incumbent governor Kompatscher was the party's leading candidate.{{Cite web | url=http://www.altoadige.it/cronaca/provinciali-l-svp-presenta-i-suoi-35-candidati-1.1657188 |title = Provinciali, l'SVP presenta i suoi 35 candidati - Cronaca| date=23 June 2018 }}{{Cite web | url=https://ilmanifesto.it/il-sistema-trentino-e-al-collasso-e-la-lega-vuole-prenderselo-grazie-alla-svp |title = Il manifesto|date = 25 August 2018}} In the election on 21 October 2018, the party gained 41.9% (–3.8pp).{{cite web|access-date=22 October 2018|title=Elezioni provinciali 2018 – Provincia autonoma di Bolzano|url=http://elezioni.provincia.bz.it/home_li_vg.html|website=elezioni.provincia.bz.it|archive-date=28 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128075501/http://elezioni.provincia.bz.it/home_li_vg.html|url-status=dead}} The PD, SVP's traditional ally, did so poorly that the SVP needed to find a new coalition partner: after long negotiations, the party chose to team up with Lega Alto Adige Südtirol in 2019.{{Cite web | url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2019/01/07/alto-adige-svp-approva-giunta-con-lega_f325d105-7456-4dd1-8bb9-d6b8de1e2441.html | title=Alto Adige, SVP approva giunta con Lega - Politica| date=7 January 2019}} Additionally, for the 2019 European Parliament election, the party formed an electoral pact with the other two main members of the European People's Party (EPP) from Italy, Forza Italia (FI) and the Union of the Centre (UdC).{{Cite web | url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/europee-accordo-tra-fi-svp-e-udc-tajani-piu-forza-al-ppe-a-strasburgo-578571.html |title = Europee, accordo tra FI, SVP e Udc. Tajani: "Più forza al Ppe a Strasburgo" - Affaritaliani.it| date=20 December 2018 }} In the event, the SVP garnered 46.5% of the vote in the province and Dorfmann was re-elected to the European Parliament.

=2022–2024 elections=

In the 2022 general election, the SVP decided to run independently with PATT and the Trentino Project. In response, the centre-left coalition made deals with the Team K and Greens after this decision. The SVP obtained 44.1% (–4.7pp) of the vote at the provincial level. Fewer seats were at stake after the successful 2020 constitutional referendum. For the Chamber, Schullian was re-elected in Bolzano with 32.9%,{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=C&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=I&tpe=L&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=28&levsut1=1&lev2=1&levsut2=2&levsut3=3&ne1=28&ne2=281&es0=S&es1=S&es2=S&es3=S&ms=S&ne3=2813&lev3=3 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }} Gebhard was re-elected in Brixen with 57.4%{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=C&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=I&tpe=L&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=28&levsut1=1&lev2=1&levsut2=2&levsut3=3&ne1=28&ne2=281&es0=S&es1=S&es2=S&es3=S&ms=S&ne3=2814&lev3=4 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }} and incumbent senator Steger was elected from the PR list.{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=C&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=I&tpe=M&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=28&levsut1=1&lev2=1&levsut2=2&ne1=28&ne2=281&es0=S&es1=S&es2=S&ms=S&ne3=0 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }} For the Senate, the party's candidate narrowly lost in Bolzano,{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=S&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=G&tpe=L&lev0=4&levsut0=1&levsut1=2&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S&ne1=404&lev1=4 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }} Unterberger was re-elected in Meran with 47.8%{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=S&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=G&tpe=L&lev0=4&levsut0=1&levsut1=2&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S&ne1=405&lev1=5 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }} and Durnwalder was re-elected in Brixen with 46.1%.{{cite web | url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=S&dtel=25/09/2022&tpa=G&tpe=L&lev0=4&levsut0=1&levsut1=2&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S&ne1=406&lev1=6 | title=Eligendo Archivio - Ministero dell'Interno DAIT }}

In the 2023 provincial election, the party was reduced to 34.5% of the vote (–7.4pp), with Kompatscher as the most voted candidate. That was due to the competition from a number of right-wing and populist German-speaking parties (combined 25.0% of the vote), as well as the split of For South Tyrol with Widmann (3.4%). After the election, the SVP chose to pursue an alliance with the Brothers of Italy (FdI, 6.0%), Die Freiheitlichen (dF, 4.9%), Lega Alto Adige Südtirol (LAAST, 3.1%) and The Civic List (LC, 2.6%).{{cite web | url=https://www.rainews.it/tgr/bolzano/articoli/2023/12/per-il-si-alla-giunta-la-svp-chiede-a-roma-il-via-libera-al-nuovo-statuto-932104ef-90b6-4de6-b995-6493a346dbb2.html | title=Per il sì alla giunta la SVP chiede a Roma il via libera al nuovo Statuto | date=6 December 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.ildolomiti.it/politica/2023/lsvp-sceglie-la-destra-via-libera-allaccordo-con-fratelli-ditalia-lega-e-freiheitlichen | title=L'SVP sceglie la destra: Via libera all'accordo con Fratelli d'Italia, Lega e Freiheitlichen | date=2 December 2023 }} Kompatscher, who favoured a centre-left coalition,{{cite web | url=https://www.altoadige.it/cronaca/kompatscher-farmi-da-parte-non-avrebbe-cambiato-nulla-sar%C3%B2-il-garante-dei-nostri-valori-1.3649305 | title=Kompatscher: «Farmi da parte non avrebbe cambiato nulla, sarò il garante dei nostri valori» - Cronaca | date=5 December 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.bolzanoquotidiano.it/politica/kompatscher-preferivo-una-giunta-con-sinistra-e-centro-fdi-no-ad-ultimatum-sul-rispetto-dellautonomia | title=Kompatscher: "Preferivo una Giunta con sinistra e centro". FdI: "No ad ultimatum sul rispetto dell'Autonomia" | Bolzano Quotidiano | date=5 December 2023 }} stayed as governor. The new government was formed by eight ministers from the SVP and one each for FdI, dF and LAAST, while LC provided external support.{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/01/31/kompatscher-autonomia-e-la-base-di-una-giunta-di-successo_3a17970c-accb-4779-ae3f-36d178ad7e43.html | title=Kompatscher, 'autonomia è la base di una giunta di successo' - Notizie - Ansa.it | date=31 January 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/01/30/kompatscher-guardare-la-giunta-senza-occhiali-ideologici_459bdd52-e2b0-428e-8bd9-914f8748e10e.html | title=Kompatscher, 'guardare la giunta senza occhiali ideologici' - Notizie - Ansa.it | date=30 January 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/02/01/la-nuova-giunta-provinciale-si-presenta_322ab2d1-68ae-42e9-8bbe-af59871c63aa.html | title=La nuova Giunta provinciale si presenta - Notizie - Ansa.it | date=February 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.altoadige.it/cronaca/kompatscher-presenta-la-nuova-giunta-autonomia-siamo-un-modello-in-europa-1.3690180 | title=Kompatscher presenta la nuova giunta: «Autonomia, siamo un modello in Europa» - Cronaca | date=February 2024 }}

In May 2024, Steger was elected party leader, replacing Achammer.{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/04/24/svp-dieter-steger-designato-obmann-del-partito-di-raccolta_623db46b-a9a3-44a6-a4b6-babacab6f55e.html | title=SVP, Dieter Steger designato Obmann del partito di raccolta - Notizie - Ansa.it | date=24 April 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.ladige.it/cronaca/2024/05/04/Dieter%20Steger%20eletto%20segretario%20politico%20della%20Svp%20-1.3774547 | title=Il deputato Dieter Steger eletto segretario politico della SVP - Cronaca | l'Adige.it | date=4 May 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.altoadige.it/cronaca/la-svp-punta-su-dieter-steger-per-la-ripartenza-1.3725073 | title=La SVP punta su Dieter Steger per la ripartenza - Cronaca | date=11 March 2024 }}

In the run-up of the 2024 European Parliament election, the SVP confirmed its electoral pact with FI.{{cite news |url=https://www.ansa.it/trentino/notizie/2024/04/16/europee-accordo-forza-italia-svp-per-candidatura-dorfmann_59fc2ad6-70f2-4f06-8b6c-83b83fbea07f.html |title=Europee: accordo Forza Italia-Svp per candidatura Dorfmann|website=Ansa |language=it |date=16 April 2024 }} In the event, the SVP garnered 47.0% of the vote in the province and Dorfmann was re-elected to the European Parliament.

Ideology and factions

File:Luis Durnwalder Südtirol.jpg]]

The SVP is an example of a catch-all party. Its ideology ranges from Christian democracy to social democracy, due to the virtual absence of a true social-democratic rival party in the region. In German-speaking valleys the SVP has had almost no opposition for decades.

The SVP is a member of the European People's Party (EPP), and its MEP sits in the EPP Group of the European Parliament.{{cite web|url=http://eppgroup.eu/party/12401|title=12401 - Party - EPP Group in the European Parliament|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425162256/http://www.eppgroup.eu/party/12401|archive-date=25 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

In the years the SVP suffered many splits reflecting the diverse composition of the party (Tyrolean Homeland Party, Social Progressive Party of South Tyrol and Social Democratic Party of South Tyrol) and many SVP leading members left the party in order to join other parties, notably including Alfons Benedikter, a right-winger who launched the Union for South Tyrol in 1989, Christian Waldner, a conservative liberal who launched Die Freiheitlichen in 1992, Sepp Kusstatscher, a leftist who joined the Greens in 1999, and finally Roland Atz, who switched to Lega Alto Adige Südtirol in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.dolomiten.it/nachrichten/artikel.asp?KatID=fa&p=5&ArtID=121648|title=Dolomiten / Medien Informationen / Alle Medien - Athesia Medien|first=Athesia|last=Medien|website=www.dolomiten.it|access-date=25 November 2017}} The Party of Independents/Freedom Party of South Tyrol, the South Tyrolean Homeland Federation, the Union for South Tyrol and Die Freiheitlichen can thus all be considered splits of the SVP.

Within the party it is possible to identify three official internal factions:{{cite web | url=https://www.svp.eu/de/partei/organisation-943.html | title=Organisation }}

Landwirtschaft (Agriculture), representing the interests of farmers{{cite web | url=https://www.svp.eu/de/svp-landwirtschaft/landwirtschaft-961.html | title=SVP Landwirtschaft }} and, usually, traditional and Catholic values; the faction, which has had in Luis Durnwalder, governor from 1989 to 2013, and Arno Kompatscher, governor since 2013, its main representatives in government, has featured in recent times Hans Berger, Herbert Dorfmann, Meinhard Durnwalder, Josef Noggler, Stefan Premstaller, Siegfried Rinner, Arnold Schuler and Manfred Schullian;{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/03/23/news/svp-contadini-schierati-per-le-primarie-1.4364469|title=Svp, contadini schierati per le primarie|author=Francesca Gonzato|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628031913/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/03/23/news/svp-contadini-schierati-per-le-primarie-1.4364469|archive-date=28 June 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/04/28/news/dorfmann-scalda-i-motori-candidarmi-puo-essere-1.4435303|title=Dorfmann scalda i motori "Candidarmi? Può essere"|author=di Francesca Gonzato|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522110728/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/04/28/news/dorfmann-scalda-i-motori-candidarmi-puo-essere-1.4435303|archive-date=22 May 2012|url-status=dead}} as of 2023, the faction is the party's strongest and includes at least 5 provincial councillors out of 13, the party's MEP, 1 deputy out of 3 and 1 senator out of 2.
Wirtschaft (Economy), representing small business;{{cite web | url=https://www.svp.eu/de/svp-wirtschaft/wirtschaft-959.html | title=SVP Wirtschaft }}{{cite web|url= http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/novembre/15/Frau_Helga_alla_buvette_con_co_9_061115117.shtml|title= Frau Helga alla buvette con Dell' Utri: la manovra così non va}} the faction has been led by Gerhard Brandstätter{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Durni-aspetta-il-voto-di-Trento-Pdl:-Noi-in-giunta---Sondaggio/1534394|title=La Lega insiste con DurniVogliamo entrare in giunta - Cronaca - Alto Adige|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204003421/http://altoadige.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Durni-aspetta-il-voto-di-Trento-Pdl:-Noi-in-giunta---Sondaggio/1534394|archive-date=4 December 2008|url-status=dead}} and has featured Daniel Alfreider, Manfred Pinzger, Dieter Steger, Helga Thaler Ausserhofer (a conservative){{cite web|url= http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Politica/2006/04_Aprile/25/cazzullo.shtml|title= I dubbi di Helga, sudtirolese con il "divo Giulio" nel cuore - Corriere della Sera}} Thomas Widmann, Karl Zeller, as well as Landwirtschaft member Kompatscher{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/04/18/news/primarie-svp-liberta-di-voto-dell-ala-economica-1.6908272|title=Primarie Svp, libertà di voto dell'ala economica|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120357/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/04/18/news/primarie-svp-liberta-di-voto-dell-ala-economica-1.6908272|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}} (who wields strong support from the faction);{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/04/16/news/l-ombra-della-scissione-sulla-svp-1.6896332|title=L'ombra della scissione sulla Svp|author=di Francesca Gonzato|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120750/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/04/16/news/l-ombra-della-scissione-sulla-svp-1.6896332|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}} as of 2023, the faction includes the party's MEP, at least 3 provincial councillors out of 13, 1 deputy out of 3 and 1 senator out of 2.
Arbeitnehmer (Labour),{{cite web | url=https://www.svp.eu/de/svp-arbeitnehmerinnen/arbeiternehmerinnen-955.html | title=SVP-ArbeitnehmerInnen }} the social-democratic faction and political arm of the Union of South Tyrolean Independent Trade Unions (ASGB);{{cite web|url=http://www.arbeitnehmer.bz.it/|title=Courtesy page (default www.arbeitnehmer.bz.it)|access-date=9 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604090454/http://www.arbeitnehmer.bz.it/|archive-date=4 June 2015}} the faction, currently led by Madgalena Amhof and previously led by Reinhold Perkmann,{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Lala-sociale:-Riforma-federale/1460430|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218103807/http://altoadige.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Lala-sociale:-Riforma-federale/1460430|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|title=L'ala sociale: Riforma federale - Cronaca - Alto Adige|author=Maurizio Dallago|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015}} Rosmarie Pamer,{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/altoadige/archivio/altoadige/2009/03/12/AZ2PO_AZ206.html|title=Perkmann lascia l'ala sociale dell'Svp "Basta politica, vado in Afghanistan"|work=Archivio - Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015}} and Cristoph Gufler,{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/05/21/news/l-ala-sociale-non-riesce-a-candidare-gufler-1.7108768|title=L'ala sociale non riesce a candidare Gufler|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505112608/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/05/21/news/l-ala-sociale-non-riesce-a-candidare-gufler-1.7108768|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}} has featured Renate Gebhard,{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/12/16/news/svp-il-paladino-plangger-e-il-candidato-dei-venostani-1.6208477|title=Svp: il "paladino" Plangger è il candidato dei venostani|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505110307/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/12/16/news/svp-il-paladino-plangger-e-il-candidato-dei-venostani-1.6208477|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}} Oskar Peterlini,{{cite web|url= http://www.alleanzanazionale.bz.it/comunicati-stampa-della-federazione-provinciale-di-an/alleanza-nazionale-2013-il-popolo-della-liberta-ribadisce-i-suoi-due-obiettivi-storici-riportare-la-questione-altoatesina-fra-i-temi-dell2019azione-di-governo-nazionale-e-imporsi-come-forza-di-governo-provinciale-per-una-corresponsabilita-autentica-nella-gesti|title= Alleanza nazionale – il Popolo della Libertà ribadisce i suoi due obiettivi storici: riportare la questione altoatesina fra i temi dell’azione di Governo nazionale e imporsi c...}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Richard Theiner, Martin Pircher and Harald Stauder (party secretary since 2024);{{cite web|url=http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/06/17/news/lista-svp-la-meta-sono-facce-nuove-1.7278233|title=Lista Svp, la metà sono facce nuove|author=di Maurizio Dallago|work=Alto Adige|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505112358/http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/06/17/news/lista-svp-la-meta-sono-facce-nuove-1.7278233|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}} as of 2023, the faction includes at least 4 provincial councillors out of 13 and 1 deputy out of 3.

In August 2018 a new faction, Plattform Heimat (Homeland Platform), was launched.{{cite web | url=https://www.altoadige.it/cronaca/bolzano/la-svp-lancia-il-gruppo-heimat-1.1714672 | title=La SVP lancia il gruppo «Heimat» - Bolzano | date=17 August 2018 }} The grouping represents the party's right-wing, which has been weakened over the years by the competition of several right-wing parties and is led by Michael Epp. Since 2023 the faction is represented by 2 provincial concillors out of 13.{{cite web | url=https://www.tageszeitung.it/2023/12/07/das-ist-zu-viel | title="Das ist zu viel" – die Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung }}

Siegfried Brugger and Elmar Pichler Rolle, who led the party in 1992–2004 and 2004–2009 respectively, are centrist figures who worked for preserving internal unity. In order to prevent the party's break-up along right-left lines, in 2008 Perkmann, leader of the Arbeitnehmer, proposed a "federal reform" of the party in order to preserve its catch-all nature and simultaneously give more autonomy to its factions, which had been given an official status. The result was a mild reform of the party and the election to the party leadership in 2009 of a ticket composed by a leading member of the Arbeitnehmer, Richard Theiner, and a leading member of the Wirtschaft faction, Thomas Widmann, plus Martha Stocker, a close ally of Durnwalder. The internal divide was also displayed during the vote of confidence on Silvio Berlusconi's fourth government in 2008: Pinzger and Thaler Ausserhofer abstained, while Brugger, Zeller and Peterlini voted against.{{cite web|url= http://www.senato.it/japp/bgt/showdoc/frame.jsp?tipodoc=Resaula&leg=16&id=301913|title= Legislatura 16º - Aula - Resoconto stenografico della seduta n. 005 del 15 May 2008}}{{cite web|url= http://www.camera.it/resoconti/dettaglio_resoconto.asp?idSeduta=5&resoconto=stenografico&indice=alfabetico&tit=00040&fase=00010#sed0005.stenografico.tit00040.sub00010|title= Stenografico Assemblea - Sed. n. 5 di mercoledì 14 maggio 2008 - 16^ Legislatura}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Former chairman Philip Achammer is a member of the boards of all the three official factions.

The Young Generation (Junge Generation, JG) is the youth movement of the party, including all members at the age of 14 to 30.

Popular support

The electoral results of the SVP in South Tyrol since 1948 are shown in the chart below

{{Graph:Chart

|width=1200

|type=rect

|colors=#000000

|xAxisTitle=Elections

|xAxisAngle=-50

|x=1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

|yAxisMin=0

|yAxisFormat=%

|yAxisTitle=% of popular vote

|y1=0.676, 0, 0, 0, 0.648, 0.599, 0, 0, 0.644, 0, 0.608, 0, 0.639, 0, 0, 0.566, 0.613, 0, 0, 0, 0.585, 0, 0, 0, 0.59, 0.564, 0, 0, 0.596, 0, 0.614, 0.629, 0, 0, 0, 0.596, 0.631, 0, 0, 0.583, 0.604, 0.53, 0, 0, 0.572, 0.52, 0.599, 0, 0.527, 0, 0.566, 0.56, 0, 0.605, 0, 0.556, 0.467, 0, 0.534, 0, 0.443, 0.521, 0, 0, 0, 0.442, 0.48, 0, 0, 0, 0.488, 0.46, 0, 0, 0.44

|y2=,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 0.607,,,,,,,,,,, 0.621,,,,0.594,,,,,,,,,,,0.569,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 0.481,,,,, 0.457,,,,, 0.419,,

}}

The electoral results of the SVP in South Tyrol since 1953 are shown in the table below.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtrend.it/m/mappa-elettorale/index.html#/c/2013-02-24/r/italy|title=Elezioni Italiane|website=www.youtrend.it|access-date=23 August 2019}}

= Chamber of Deputies =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
1953 !1958 !1963 !1968 !1972 !1976 !1979 !1983 !1987 !1992 !1994 !1996 !2001 !2006 !2008 !2013 !2018 !2022
59.9	60.8 \|56.6 \|58.5 \|59.0 \|59.6 \|62.9 \|59.6 \|58.3 \|57.2 \|59.9 \|52.7{{efn\|name=fn1\|This result refers to single-seat constituencies, as the SVP did not present its own party list for proportional representation, but was part of the list of the Italian People's Party (PPI), along with some other minor parties, at the national level. This list won only 27.9% in the Province of Bolzano.}} \|60.5 \|53.4 \|44.3 \|44.2 \|48.8 \|44.1

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

1953

!1958

!1963

!1968

!1972

!1976

!1979

!1983

!1987

!1992

!1994

!1996

!2001

!2006

!2008

!2013

!2018

!2022

59.9

60.8

|56.6

|58.5

|59.0

|59.6

|62.9

|59.6

|58.3

|57.2

|59.9

|52.7{{efn|name=fn1|This result refers to single-seat constituencies, as the SVP did not present its own party list for proportional representation, but was part of the list of the Italian People's Party (PPI), along with some other minor parties, at the national level. This list won only 27.9% in the Province of Bolzano.}}

|60.5

|53.4

|44.3

|44.2

|48.8

|44.1

= European Parliament =

class="wikitable"

!1979

!1984

!1989

!1994

!1999

!2004

!2009

!2014

!2019

62.1

|63.1

|53.0

|56.9

|56.0

|46.7

|52.1

|48.0

|46.5

Election results

=Landtag of South Tyrol=

class=wikitable style="width:40%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
colspan=6\|Landtag of South Tyrol
width=13%\|Election year ! width=13%\|Votes ! width=6%\|% ! width=1%\|Seats ! width=8%\|+/−
1948 \| 107,249 \| 67.60 \| {{Composition bar\|13\|20\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1952 \| 112,602 \| 64.81 \| {{Composition bar\|15\|22\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 2}}
1956 \| 124,165 \| 64.40 \| {{Composition bar\|15\|22\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1960 \| 132,351 \| 63.92 \| {{Composition bar\|15\|22\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1964 \| 134,188 \| 61.30 \| {{Composition bar\|16\|25\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 1}}
1968 \| 137,982 \| 60.74 \| {{Composition bar\|16\|25\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1973 \| 132,186 \| 56.40 \| {{Composition bar\|20\|34\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 4}}
1978 \| 163,502 \| 61.35 \| {{Composition bar\|21\|34\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 1}}
1983 \| 170,125 \| 59.42 \| {{Composition bar\|22\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 1}}
1988 \| 184,717 \| 60.40 \| {{Composition bar\|22\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1993 \| 160,186 \| 52.03 \| {{Composition bar\|19\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 3}}
1998 \| 171,820 \| 56.62 \| {{Composition bar\|21\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 2}}
2003 \| 167,353 \| 55.60 \| {{Composition bar\|21\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
2008 \| 146,545 \| 48.12 \| {{Composition bar\|18\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 3}}
2013 \| 131,236 \| 45.70 \| {{Composition bar\|17\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 1}}
2018 \| 119,108 \| 41.89 \| {{Composition bar\|15\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 2}}
2023 \| 97,092 \| 34.53 \| {{Composition bar\|13\|35\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 2}}

class=wikitable style="width:40%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"

colspan=6|Landtag of South Tyrol

width=13%|Election year

! width=13%|Votes

! width=6%|%

! width=1%|Seats

! width=8%|+/−

1948

| 107,249

| 67.60

| {{Composition bar|13|20|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1952

| 112,602

| 64.81

| {{Composition bar|15|22|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 2}}

1956

| 124,165

| 64.40

| {{Composition bar|15|22|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1960

| 132,351

| 63.92

| {{Composition bar|15|22|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1964

| 134,188

| 61.30

| {{Composition bar|16|25|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}

1968

| 137,982

| 60.74

| {{Composition bar|16|25|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1973

| 132,186

| 56.40

| {{Composition bar|20|34|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 4}}

1978

| 163,502

| 61.35

| {{Composition bar|21|34|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}

1983

| 170,125

| 59.42

| {{Composition bar|22|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}

1988

| 184,717

| 60.40

| {{Composition bar|22|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1993

| 160,186

| 52.03

| {{Composition bar|19|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}

1998

| 171,820

| 56.62

| {{Composition bar|21|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{increase}} 2}}

2003

| 167,353

| 55.60

| {{Composition bar|21|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

2008

| 146,545

| 48.12

| {{Composition bar|18|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}

2013

| 131,236

| 45.70

| {{Composition bar|17|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{decrease}} 1}}

2018

| 119,108

| 41.89

| {{Composition bar|15|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{decrease}} 2}}

2023

| 97,092

| 34.53

| {{Composition bar|13|35|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|{{decrease}} 2}}

=Italian Parliament=

class=wikitable style="width:40%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
colspan=6\|Chamber of Deputies
width=13%\|Election year ! width=13%\|Votes ! width=6%\|% ! width=1%\|Seats ! width=8%\|+/−
1948 \| 124,243 \| 0.47 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|574\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1953 \| 122,474 \| 0.45 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|590\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1958 \| 135,491 \| 0.46 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|596\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1963 \| 135,457 \| 0.44 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1968 \| 152,991 \| 0.48 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1972 \| 153,674 \| 0.46 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1976 \| 184,375 \| 0.50 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1979 \| 204,899 \| 0.56 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1983 \| 184,940 \| 0.50 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1987 \| 202,022 \| 0.52 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1992 \| 198,447 \| 0.51 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1994 \| 231,842 \| 0.60 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
1996 \| 156,708 \| 0.42 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
2001 \| 200,059 \| 0.54 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
2006 \| 182,704 \| 0.48 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
2008 \| 147,718 \| 0.41 \| {{Composition bar\|2\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 1}}
2013 \| 146,804 \| 0.43 \| {{Composition bar\|4\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{increase}} 2}}
2018 \| 134,651 \| 0.41 \| {{Composition bar\|4\|630\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|–}}
2022 \| 117,010 \| 0.42 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|400\|hex=#000000}} \| {{center\|{{decrease}} 1}}

class=wikitable style="width:40%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"

colspan=6|Chamber of Deputies

width=13%|Election year

! width=13%|Votes

! width=6%|%

! width=1%|Seats

! width=8%|+/−

1948

| 124,243

| 0.47

| {{Composition bar|3|574|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1953

| 122,474

| 0.45

| {{Composition bar|3|590|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1958

| 135,491

| 0.46

| {{Composition bar|3|596|hex=#000000}}

| {{center|–}}

1963

| 135,457

| 0.44