Abstract
In 111 of the 116 South Tyrolean municipalities, local elections took place in May 2025. This chapter analyzes the outcomes of these elections, highlighting both continuity and shifts in political competition across the province. Two legislative changes sparked intense political debate in the run-up to the elections, influencing the dynamics of candidate recruitment: the reform of mayoral term limits and, for the first time, the uniform application of rules requiring gender-balanced representation of candidates on electoral lists at the municipal level. Despite these legislative changes, the balance of power at the municipal level remained largely stable. The South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) continues to dominate local politics, yet it faces ongoing competition from civic lists and increasingly from right-wing opposition forces. While individual municipalities show significant shifts, the results overall confirm the strong influence of local personalities and issues, which often overshadow political trends at the provincial level. At the same time, developments such as historically low voter turnout, an increasingly limited political offer, and changes in language-group and gender representation raise important questions about the future direction of municipal politics.