South Tyrol to Austria?
Austrias third presiding officer of the parliament, Martin Graf, started a discussion if South Tyrol should become a part of Austria. The controversial politican of the Freedom Party demanded a national referendum if South Tyrol should stay a part of Italy, or return back to Austria.
The minister president of North Tyrol, the part of Tyrol which belongs to Austria, Günther Platter, is not very excited about such an idea. He said that Mr. Graf should be aware of the responsibility of his position, and declared that his statements in this case are “indiscriminate and unrealistic.”
Platter adds “borders are history”, and that “we live in a united Europe anyway”. He also underlines the perfect cooperation between North and South Tyrol, “which is so good as never before.” “Let’s look into the future instead to talk about a new demarcation”, is the opinion of North Tyrols minister president.
Also the minister president of South Tyrol, Luis Durnwalder, labeled the wishes of Martin Graf as “unrealistic and irresponsible.” Durnwalder believes that most of South Tyrols inhabitants would prefer to stay in Italy.
Critics for Graf also from the Socialdemocrats. Laura Rudas said that he should resign. Peoples Party man Christoph Leitl thinks that Graf still lives in the past century. Austria lost the Southern part of Tirol after the first world war in 1918.