9 January 2007, Molterer was chosen to become managing chairman of the party. He was formally elected chairman of the party at the federal party convention on 21 April 2007. By terminating his party's participation in the Grand Coalition with the SPÖ, he precipitated the early re-elections held on 28 September 2008, which ended in the worst result for the ÖVP (and the SPÖ) since their respective inception after World War II. Wilhelm Molterer stepped down as chairman of the party on 29 September 2008 and was succeeded by Josef Pröll. Minister of Finance, 2007–2008 During his time in office, Molterer unsuccessfully opposed a 2007 deal between the Austrian government and the Eurofighter consortium on reducing an order of Eurofighter Typhoon military jets from 18 to 15 and to shift to a slightly less advanced model. Other activities African Development Bank (AfDB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2007-2008) European Investment Bank (EIB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2007-2008) Controversy In 2013, Vienna prosecutors extended a corruption investigation to include Molterer and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka on suspicion their ÖVP may have used Telekom Austria funds for illegal party financing in the 2008 election. External links Entry for Wilhelm Molterer in the AEIOU Encyclopedia References 1955 births Living people Vice-Chancellors of Austria Finance Ministers of Austria Government ministers of Austria Austrian People's Party politicians Johannes Kepler University Linz alumni Agriculture ministers of Austria 21st-century Austrian politicians