Die Freiheitlichen
Die Freiheitlichen (German: [diː ˈfʁaɪhaɪtlɪçn̩]), abbreviated dF) is a regionalist, separatist, and national-conservative political party in South Tyrol. The party, which is part of the South Tyrolean independence movement, seeks to represent the German-speaking majority and Ladin-speaking minority in the province and to separate it from Italy.
Die Freiheitlichen | |
|---|---|
| President | Roland Stauder and Otto Mahlknecht (acting) |
| Secretary | Dietmar Zwerger |
| Honorary President | Pius Leitner |
| Founded | 7 December 1992 |
| Split from | Union for South Tyrol South Tyrolean People's Party |
| Headquarters | Via della Chiesa 62 Terlan (BZ) |
| Ideology | Regionalism German-speaking minority interests National conservatism Separatism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Chamber of Deputies | 0 / 630
|
| Senate | 0 / 315
|
| European Parliament | 0 / 73
|
| Provincial Council | 1 / 35
|
| Website | |
| die-freiheitlichen.com | |
| |
Broadly speaking, the party's ideology is similar to that of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), and the two parties maintain close contacts. The party was long led by Pius Leitner, who led it to become the second-largest party after the dominant South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) in the 2013 provincial elections, the party's best result so far. The party's name is variously translated into English as "The Freedomites", a term frequently used for FPÖ's members by English media, and by the FPÖ itself, "The Libertarians", and "The Liberals".