South Tyrolean People's Party

The South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) is a political group in South Tyrol, a special area in northern Italy where most people speak German. South Tyrol is allowed to make its own decisions in many areas because it is autonomous. The party has worked to represent the German-speaking people who live there, as well as some other smaller groups.

The SVP was started on May 8, 1945, and it has been very important in South Tyrol for many years. For a long time, it had more votes than any other party in the area. The party cares a lot about protecting the interests of farmers, who are a big part of its supporters.

Over the years, the SVP has worked together with many different Italian political parties. Recently, it has formed new partnerships with other local groups to help make decisions for South Tyrol. The party also works with similar groups in other parts of Italy and in Europe to support regional interests.

Recent history

In 1989, Silvius Magnago, who had been the governor of South Tyrol since 1960, passed his role to Luis Durnwalder. Durnwalder led the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) for many years, keeping it as the largest party in the area despite competition from other groups.

SVP poster in Sarntal, 1993

The SVP joined a big group of parties in Europe in 1993 and became a full member later. Over the years, the SVP has taken part in many elections, sometimes working with other parties and sometimes running on its own. In some elections, it got more than half of the votes, but in others, it got fewer votes because of new competing parties.

In 2024, Dieter Steger became the new leader of the SVP, replacing Philipp Achammer. The party continues to work with other groups to represent the people of South Tyrol.

Ideology and factions

The South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) is a party that tries to include many different views. It has ideas from Christian democracy and social democracy. For many years, in areas where German is spoken, the SVP has been the main party with little opposition.

The SVP is part of the European People's Party and has a representative in the European Parliament.

Luis Durnwalder

Over the years, the SVP has had many splits, with members leaving to join other parties. Inside the SVP, there are three main groups: one for farmers, one for small businesses, and one for workers. Each group looks out for its own interests.

In 2018, a new group called the Homeland Platform was started, representing the more right-wing views within the party.

The party's youth movement, the Young Generation, includes members aged 14 to 30.

Popular support

The South Tyrolean People's Party has been popular in South Tyrol since 1953. You can see their election results in the tables below.

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	60.5	53.4	44.3	44.2	48.8	44.1


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

Italian Parliament

European Parliament

Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/−
Landtag of South Tyrol
1948	107,249	67.60	13 / 20	–
1952	112,602	64.81	15 / 22	2
1956	124,165	64.40	15 / 22	–
1960	132,351	63.92	15 / 22	–
1964	134,188	61.30	16 / 25	1
1968	137,982	60.74	16 / 25	–
1973	132,186	56.40	20 / 34	4
1978	163,502	61.35	21 / 34	1
1983	170,125	59.42	22 / 35	1
1988	184,717	60.40	22 / 35	–
1993	160,186	52.03	19 / 35	3
1998	171,820	56.62	21 / 35	2
2003	167,353	55.60	21 / 35	–
2008	146,545	48.12	18 / 35	3
2013	131,236	45.70	17 / 35	1
2018	119,108	41.89	15 / 35	2
2023	97,092	34.53	13 / 35	2

Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/−
Chamber of Deputies
1948	124,243	0.47	3 / 574	–
1953	122,474	0.45	3 / 590	–
1958	135,491	0.46	3 / 596	–
1963	135,457	0.44	3 / 630	–
1968	152,991	0.48	3 / 630	–
1972	153,674	0.46	3 / 630	–
1976	184,375	0.50	3 / 630	–
1979	204,899	0.56	3 / 630	–
1983	184,940	0.50	3 / 630	–
1987	202,022	0.52	3 / 630	–
1992	198,447	0.51	3 / 630	–
1994	231,842	0.60	3 / 630	–
1996	156,708	0.42	3 / 630	–
2001	200,059	0.54	3 / 630	–
2006	182,704	0.48	3 / 630	–
2008	147,718	0.41	2 / 630	1
2013	146,804	0.43	4 / 630	2
2018	134,651	0.41	4 / 630	–
2022	117,010	0.42	3 / 400	1

Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/−
Senate of the Republic
1948	94,406	0.42	2 / 237	–
1953	107,139	0.44	2 / 237	–
1958	120,068	0.46	2 / 246	–
1963	112,023	0.41	2 / 315	–
1968	131,071	0.46	2 / 315	–
1972	113,452	0.38	2 / 315	–
1976	158,584	0.50	2 / 315	–
1979	172,582	0.55	2 / 315	–
1983	157,444	0.51	2 / 315	–
1987	171,539	0.53	2 / 315	–
1992	168,113	0.50	3 / 315	1
1994	217,137	0.66	3 / 315	–
1996	178,425	0.55	2 / 315	1
2001	126,177	0.37	3 / 315	1
2006	117,495	0.46	3 / 315	–
2008	98,948	0.40	3 / 315	–
2013	97,141	0.41	2 / 315	1
2018	128,282	0.42	3 / 315	1
2022	116,003	0.42	2 / 200	1

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	EP Group
1979	Silvius Magnago	196,373 (11th)	0.56	1 / 81	New	EPP
1984		198,220 (9th)	0.56	1 / 81	0
1989		172,383 (13th)	0.50	1 / 81	0
1994	Siegfried Brugger	202,668 (15th)	0.62	1 / 87	0
1999	Siegfried Brugger	156,005 (19th)	0.50	1 / 78	0	EPP-ED
2004	Elmar Pichler Rolle	146,357 (21st)	0.45	1 / 78	0	EPP-ED
2009	Richard Theiner	143,509 (13th)	0.47	1 / 72	0	EPP
2014	Philipp Achammer	138,037 (11th)	0.50	1 / 73	0
2019	Philipp Achammer	142,185 (11th)	0.53	1 / 76	0
2024	Dieter Steger	120,930 (11th)	0.52	1 / 76	0

Leadership

The South Tyrolean People's Party has had many leaders over the years. Some of the chairmen include Silvius Magnago, who led from 1957 to 1991, and Dieter Steger, who has been the leader since 2024. Silvius Magnago is also an honorary chairman. There have also been many secretaries, with Philipp Achammer serving from 2009 to 2013 and Harald Stauder starting in 2024.