Luis Durnwalder (born 23 September 1941) is an Italian politician, former governor of the autonomous province of

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

from 1989 until 2014, and former president and vice-president of

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol it, Trentino (man) it, Trentina (woman) or it, Altoatesino (man) it, Altoatesina (woman) or it, Sudtirolesegerman: Südtiroler (man)german: Südtirolerin (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = Official ...

, in

Northern Italy Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative regions ...

Biography

Durnwalder was born in

Pfalzen Pfalzen (; it, Falzes ; Ladin: ''Falzes'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of Bolzano. Geography As of 31 December 2015, it had a population of 2,753 and an area of .All demographics and ...

. After attending school in Pfalzen and

Brixen Brixen (, ; it, Bressanone ; lld, Porsenù or ) is a town in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography First mentioned in 901, Brixen is the third largest city and oldest town in the province, and the artistic and ...

, he originally planned to enter an

Augustinian Augustinian may refer to: *Augustinians, members of religious orders following the Rule of St Augustine *Augustinianism, the teachings of Augustine of Hippo and his intellectual heirs *Someone who follows Augustine of Hippo * Canons Regular of Sain ...

choir at the Neustift

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

in Brixen; however, Durnwalder decided instead to study agriculture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, additionally he attended lectures in law. During this time he began his political activity and became chairman of the student group ''Südtiroler Hochschülerschaft'' (until 1965). In 1969, he became

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of his home municipality and in 1973 delegate to the provincial assembly; he was Regional Counsellor for the Land Register from 1973 to 1978. At that time he also worked as director of the farmers' association, ''Südtiroler Bauernbund'', and moved to

Bolzano Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third la ...

, where he lives today. After the 1978 elections, he was elected member of the regional government. From 1989 until 2014 he presided over the provincial government as governor (''

Landeshauptmann Landeshauptmann (if male) or Landeshauptfrau (if female) (, "state captain", plural ''Landeshauptleute'') is the chairman of a state government and the supreme official of an Austrian state and the Italian autonomous provinces of South Tyrol an ...

''). Durnwalder is a member of the

South Tyrolean People's Party The South Tyrolean People's Party (german: Südtiroler Volkspartei, SVP) is a regionalist and autonomist political party in South Tyrol, an autonomous province with a German-speaking majority in northern Italy. Founded on 8 May 1945, the SVP ha ...

. He is Knight of Honor of the

Order of St. George The Order of Saint George (russian: Орден Святого Георгия, Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. Originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) a ...

.Homepage of the St. Georgs Orden
/ref>

References

External links

Biography on the homepage of the government of South Tyrol
1941 births Living people People from Pfalzen Members of the Regional Council of Trentino-Alto Adige Presidents of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Governors of South Tyrol Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Germanophone Italian people South Tyrolean People's Party politicians Members of the Landtag of South Tyrol University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna alumni Mayors of places in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol {{Italy-politician-stub