Abstract
During the reform process of the Carinthian Constitution the coalition parties had agreed that in the new regional constitution also the Slovenian minority would be included, stating literally that: “The region of Carinthia avows itself to its grown linguistic and cultural diversity. Language and culture, traditions and cultural heritage must be respected, protected and promoted. It is the duty of the region and the municipalities to have equal regards for its German- and Slovenian-speaking citizens.” Since the compromise in 2011 on the place-name signs, the climate in Carinthia has clearly changed for the better. With the draft constitution, Carinthia had the chance to realize a peaceful, equitable and future-oriented coexistence of minority and majority in the Alps-Adria-Region. From this draft agreement the Carinthian Conservatives (ÖVP) have now withdrawn. This has deeply shocked the members of the Slovenian minority but also legal experts, NGO representatives and media. Especially because the new compromise, making German as the only offi cial language of the region, constitutes a denial of historical circumstances and would be a step back to the minority policy of the last decades.