Reinhold Mitterlehner

Reinhold Mitterlehner
Chancellor of Austria
Acting
In office
9 May 2016 – 17 May 2016
President Heinz Fischer
Preceded by Werner Faymann
Succeeded by Christian Kern
Vice Chancellor of Austria
In office
1 September 2014 – 17 May 2017
Chancellor Werner Faymann
Christian Kern
Preceded by Michael Spindelegger
Succeeded by Wolfgang Brandstetter
Minister of Science, Research and Economy
In office
16 December 2013 – 17 May 2017
Chancellor Werner Faymann
Christian Kern
Preceded by Karlheinz Töchterle (Science and Research)
Himself (Economy, Family and Youth)
Succeeded by Harald Mahrer
Minister of Economy, Family and Youth
In office
2 December 2008 – 16 December 2013
Chancellor Werner Faymann
Preceded by Martin Bartenstein
(Economy and Labour)
Andrea Kdolsky
(Health, Family and Youth)
Succeeded by Sophie Karmasin
(Family and Youth)
Himself (Science, Research and Economy)
Personal details
Born (1955-12-10) 10 December 1955
Helfenberg, Austria
Political party People's Party
Alma mater Johannes Kepler University

Reinhold Mitterlehner (born 10 December 1955) is an Austrian politician who has served in the cabinet of Austria as Federal Minister of Economy from 2008 to date. In September 2014 he also became Vice Chancellor of Austria and Chairman of the Austrian People's Party. On 9 May 2016 he briefly assumed powers and duties as Acting Chancellor of Austria while his coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, underwent a change in leadership.[1][2] After a series of quarrel within the grand coalition as well as his own party, Mitterlehner announced his resignation on 10 May 2017, which will be effective on 17 May 2017.[3]

Early life and education

Mitterlehner was born in Helfenberg, Upper Austria, on 10 December 1955.[4][5] He holds a doctorate in law, which he received from Johannes Kepler University in Linz in 1980.[5] He then attended a post-graduate course in association management in Fribourg.[6]

Career

From 1980 to 1992 Mitterlehner worked at the Upper Austrian economic chamber, where he assumed various posts, including the head of the marketing department.[7] From 1992 to 2000 he served as the secretary general of the Austrian Economic League (ÖWB) in Vienna.[7] In addition, he was a local politician in Ahorn from 1991 to 1997.[4] He was appointed party chairman for Rohrbach District in May 2002.[6]

Member of the Austrian Parliament, 2000–present

A member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP),[4] Mitterlehner was elected to the Austrian Parliament on 8 February 2000,[7] where he served on the Committee on Labour and Social Affairs (2000-2008); the Committee on Economic Affairs (2000-2008); and the Finance Committee (2003-2008), among others.

Meanwhile, also in 2000, Mitterlehner was named deputy secretary general of the Austrian federal economic chamber (WKO), holding that post until 2008.[6]

Federal Minister of Economy, 2008–present

Following the 2008 national elections, on 2 December 2008, Mitterlehner was appointed as Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth as part of the coalition government led by Chancellor Werner Faymann.[8][9] In 2008, he was also named vice president of the Austrian Energy Agency.[5]

Mitterlehner was one of the leading candidates to succeed Josef Pröll, who left the leadership of the party in April 2011.[10] Instead, from 2011 to 2014 he was deputy federal chairman of the People's Party and only became the successor of Michael Spindelegger as party chairman in September 2014 from whom he also took the position of Vice Chancellor of Austria.[5] At the time, Mitterlehner said he would prefer not to serve as finance minister as well, a dual role that Spindelegger had performed.[11]

After the ÖVP lost votes in provincial elections to the right-wing, anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPÖ) in 2015, Mitterlehner publicly threatened to quit the coalition government if Faymann’s Social Democrat partners did not toughen their policies on migrants and shrink the welfare state.[12]

Other activities

Personal life

Mitterlehner is married and has three daughters.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Connolly, Kate (2016-05-09). "Faymann quits as Austrian chancellor following far right's election victory". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  2. ↑ "Christian Kern named as new Austrian Chancellor". POLITICO. 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  3. ↑ "Vizekanzler Mitterlehner tritt zurück". news.ORF.at (in German). 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Austria's New Cabinet: Economics Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner". Wikileaks. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Mr. Reinhold Mitterlehrar, Dr. iur.". Austrian Politics Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Keynote speakers". Power-Gen Europe. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Minister". Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Kurt Richard Luther (2009). "The Revival of the Radical Right: The Austrian Parliamentary Election of 2008" (PDF). Keele European Parties Research Unit. Working papers (29). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Austrian ministries". Rulers. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  10. ↑ Chris Bryant (13 April 2011). "Austria’s finance minister quits politics". Financial Times. Vienna. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. ↑ Michael Shields (August 31, 2014), Austrian conservatives pick Schelling as finance minister Reuters.
  12. ↑ Shadia Nasralla (September 30, 2015), Austrian vice chancellor threatens to quit coalition government Reuters.
Political offices
Preceded by
Martin Bartenstein
as Minister of Economy and Labour		 Minister of Economy, Family and Youth
2008–present 		Succeeded by
Sophie Karmasin
as Minister of Family and Youth
Preceded by
Andrea Kdolsky
as Minister of Health, Family and Youth		 Succeeded by
Himself
as Minister of Science, Research and Economy
Preceded by
Karlheinz Töchterle
as Minister of Science and Research		 Minister of Science, Research and Economy
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Harald Mahrer
Preceded by
Himself
as Minister of Economy, Family and Youth
Preceded by
Michael Spindelegger		 Vice Chancellor of Austria
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Wolfgang Brandstetter
Preceded by
Werner Faymann		 Chancellor of Austria
Acting
2016 		Succeeded by
Christian Kern
Party political offices
Preceded by
Michael Spindelegger		 Leader of the People's Party
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Sebastian Kurz
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