South Tyrolean Homeland Federation

The South Tyrolean Homeland Federation (German: Südtiroler Heimatbund, SHB) is a political organisation active in South Tyrol.

The party was established in 1974. It won 4.2% in the 1983 general election, when it ran as Election Association of Homeland Federation (Wahlverband des Heimatbundes), and 2.6% in the 1983 provincial election, enough for granting Eva Klotz a seat in the Provincial Council. In 1988 the party obtained 2.3% and Klotz was re-elected to the council. In 1989 a majority of the party merged with the Freedom Party of South Tyrol of Gerold Meraner (1.4% in 1988) and conservative splinters from the South Tyrolean People's Party led by Alfons Benedikter to form Union for South Tyrol.^[1][2]

Hans Stieler was the party's chairman from 1974 to 1990. He was succeeded by Sepp Mitterhofer (1990–2011) and Roland Lang (since 2011).^[3] The SHB has a federal committee, a federal management and a district representative in each district of South Tyrol.^[4] In 2007 the SHB was instrumental in the foundation of South Tyrolean Freedom (STF),^[5] was founding leader was Klotz. The SHB also seeks cooperation with all the parties, groups and associations in South Tyrol and Austria adopting legal means to promote the self-determination of South Tyrol, while also participating in the non-partisan Working Group for Self-determination (Arbeitsgruppe für Selbstbestimmung, ASG).^[6]