Reinhold Mitterlehner

Reinhold Mitterlehner (; born 10 December 1955) is an Austrian politician of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) who served as minister of economy in Austria's government from 2008 until 2017. In September 2014 he also became vice chancellor of Austria and chairman of the ÖVP. 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. After a series of quarrels within the grand coalition as well as his own party, Mitterlehner announced his resignation on 10 May 2017, which became effective on 17 May 2017.

Early life and education Mitterlehner was born in Helfenberg, Upper Austria, on 10 December 1955. He holds a doctorate in law, which he received from the Johannes Kepler University Linz in 1980.

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. From 1992 to 2000 he served as the secretary general of the Austrian Economic League (ÖWB) in Vienna. In 2008, he was also named vice president of the Austrian Energy Agency. 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.

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.

Other activities Corporate boards Oberösterreichische Versicherung (OÖ), Chairman of the Supervisory Board (since 2019) Global Hydro Energy, Member of the Advisory Board Non-profit organizations Österreichische Forschungsgemeinschaft (ÖFG), President (since 2018) National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, ex officio member of the board of trustees Industriewissenschaftliches Institut (IWI), member of the board of trustees International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), member of the board of trustees

Personal life Mitterlehner is married and has three daughters.