Description
Hinged on the agreement between the majority parties in Bolzano, the Südtiroler Volkspartei, and in Trento, the Christian Democrats, the balance of regional politics broke down in the 1950s. The subject of contention was the transfer of powers from the regional authority to the Province of Bolzano: while the German-speaking group pushed for greater autonomy, the president of the region, Tullio Odorizzi, interpreted the statute more rigidly, continuing to give it a pre-eminent role.
It was 1956 when the SVP decided to leave the regional government in controversy with Trento. Internal causes, as well as important developments in the international context, thus reopened the 'South Tyrolean question': the denunciation of the non-compliance with the De Gasperi-Gruber agreement was symbolised by the slogan 'Los von Trient', launched by the newly elected 'edelweiss' Silvius Magnago in the massive demonstration in Castelfirmiano in November 1957. In the meantime, the Austrian Republic, which had become independent again in 1955 after the Allied occupation, tried to reopen the border issue, addressing the UN General Assembly twice (1960 and 1961).
Another protagonist also made its way into regional politics: terrorism. Already active at the end of the 1950s with symbolic attacks against monuments and structures considered an expression of 'Italian domination', it culminated on the night of 11-12 June 1961 in the series of explosions that went down in history as the 'Night of Fires'. Numerous mines blew up high-voltage pylons, leaving Bolzano in the dark and producing billions of lire in lost industrial production. The protagonist of this action is the BAS, Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol (South Tyrol Liberation Front), an organisation that brings together South Tyrolean and Austrian separatists.
The reaction of the Italian government was not long in coming: while on the one hand they proceeded to militarise the South Tyrolean territory and arrest most of the BAS members, on the other hand they found a formula to try to politically resolve the 'South Tyrolean question'. Thus the 'Study Commission on the Problems of South Tyrol', also known as the 'Commission of 19', was set up, consisting of representatives of the state, the region and the German-speaking group. This body will conclude its work in 1964.
While the 'South Tyrolean question' proceeded with rifts and difficult mending between Rome, Bolzano and Vienna, the hypothesis of a revision of the Statute of Autonomy in favour of the Provinces posed a question mark over the fate of autonomy in Trentino. The 'Trentino question' will be favourably resolved with the recognition of parity between Trent and Bolzano, thanks also to the precious and punctual presence of the Trentino parliamentary delegation.
