The Unity List is the only independent party of Slovenians in Carinthia. It is a party for people with different political views: Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, Liberals, etc. The establishment of a “national” party of Slovenians in Carinthia, the UL, became necessary because the majority party in Carinthia would not allow Slovenians from Carinthia to take leading positions, nor did elected representatives fight strongly enough for the rights of the Slovenians in Carinthia. The Unity List has the role of an independent national party in municipal elections, in elections for the State Assembly and, in coalition with other parties, in elections to the National Assembly.

Later, a decision was made in some municipalities of bilingual Carinthia to initiate independent candidacy in municipal elections. Their success in particular towns confirmed that this decision was the right one.

In recent years, more and more German-speaking Carinthians have supported the UL, which is growing into a South-Carinthian regional party based on three focal points:

- regional policy (regional development of South Carinthia)

- language policy (equality of the Slovenian language)

- neighbourhood policy (cross-border cooperation between Austria and Slovenia).

Leadership of the Unity List

The president of the Unity List is municipal councillor in the municipality of Feistritz ob Bleiburg/Bistrica nad Pliberkom, Vladimir Smrtnik. Vice-presidents are the deputy mayor of the municipality of Zell/Sele, Nanti Olip, deputy mayor of the municipality of Globasnitz/Globasnica, Hubert Kordež, and municipal councillor of the municipality of Rosegg/Rožek, Mirko Oraže. Financial advisor is the municipal director of the market municipality of Eberndorf/Dobrla vas, Štefan Kramer. Head secretary is Adrian Kert.
 

Additional members are the municipal director of the municipality of Sittersdorf/Žitara vas, Paul Stern, municipal councillor of the city municipality of Ferlach/Borovlje, Dr Franc Wutti, and municipal councillor of the market municipality of Eisenkappel-Vellach/Železna Kapla-Bela, Gertraud Urschitz.

The Young UL & Political Administrative Academy

Part of the UL is also the Young UL, which includes members from 15 to 35 years of age, and the Political Administrative Academy for the education of Slovenian municipal councillors.

Unity List:

"Time for a new start in Carinthian policy”

The failure of the Chianti coalition comes as no surprise for the Unity List (UL). UL President Vladimir Smrtnik: “The UL refused the coalition from the beginning. Not only for democratic-political reasons, but mostly because of the belief that one of the consequences of this coalition would also be a content standstill, much to the detriment of the people of Carinthia. As can now be established, our fear turned out to be justified even before people expected it. Instead of solving numerous important political questions in the state, among others the question of bilingual inscriptions, the main focal point now is the pre-election fight of the governor, who wants to save the Alliance for the Future of Austria on a federal level. It has been expected that a person who so shamelessly violates the Constitution will not respect the coalition agreement.”

The UL supports the request of the deputy governor, Gaby Schaunig, to hold new elections and calls on the Austrian People’s Party and the Greens to stand for a new beginning in state policy together with the Social Democratic Party of Austria. “The masquerade in Carinthia is over. Now is the time to be aware of new directions, to get back on the right track and enable a successful future for Carinthia and its people,” says Smrtnik.

Unity List:

"Support the Austrian state, governed by the rule of law"

The second Austrian Republic has never before faced a public call to violate the Constitution, in complete disregard of Supreme Court decisions and questioning the independence of jurisdiction of executive power. “The actions of the Carinthian governor and relevant advisor in the case of Bleiburg/Pliberk are a dangerous precedent and a threat to the basic legal regulations of Austria,” says UL President Smrtnik, adding that Austrian citizens are also asked to support the basic regulations of the Austrian state, governed by the rule of law, since such behaviour is allowed by the Austrian Federal Government. That is why the UL calls for wide-ranging solidarity with the Austrian state, governed by the rule of law, and for support of the action: PRO KÄRNTEN / FOR CARINTHIA!