Melanie Mair was confirmed as the Landesjugendsprecherin of the Junge Süd-Tiroler Freiheit during the organization’s annual youth meeting in Tramin on September 12, according to reports from the movement. The event drew regional politicians and youth representatives, alongside a guest speech by Jean Pascal Hohm, a member of the AfD-Bundesvorstand, which drew both internal celebration and external protests from civil society groups.
Leadership Elections and Regional Strategy
During the gathering at the local Bürgerhaus, members reviewed the past year’s activities, including winter excursions, public initiatives, and the release of the Tiroler Merkheft, according to the organization’s public statements. Former member Tobias Innerhofer stepped down from the Landesjugendleitung due to age limits. Mair, a 29-year-old legal professional from Tscherms, retained her position as youth spokesperson for a two-year term. She will work alongside a newly elected leadership team consisting of Karin Larcher, Hansjörg Karbon, Aaron Kargruber, Kilian Larcher, and Johannes Paris. Mair stated that the organization intends to hold a Klausur to expand its grassroots presence across the region.
Guest Address by Jean Pascal Hohm
The meeting’s agenda featured an address by Jean Pascal Hohm, chairman of Generation Deutschland and a member of the Brandenburg state parliament. Hohm addressed attendees regarding his long-standing political focus on South Tyrol. The invitation of the AfD-Bundesvorstand member drew sharp criticism from political opponents and local organizations ahead of the event.
Demonstrations and Security Measures
Antifa groups, civil society networks, the No Excuses initiative, and representatives from the South Tyrol People’s Party (SVP) economy wing and Young Generation organized counter-protests under the banner “Hohm go Home,” according to local reports. To prevent clashes with the traditional Schützenfest taking place in the village on the same day, Mayor Wolfgang Oberhofer ordered the protest site relocated from the town hall square to the local minigolf facility, roughly 500 meters away. A heavy police presence monitored the demonstrations, which remained peaceful. Neumarkt municipal councillor Sadbhavana Pfaffstaller criticized the decision to host the Generation Deutschland chairman in Tramin, pointing to the village’s historical ties to postwar transit routes on social media channels.
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