 With the Flemish socialists (today Flemish social-democratic party) he was a municipal council member in Waregem (1988–2001), member of the provincial council of West Flanders (1978–1984), and a member of the Federal Parliament (1984–2001).He was state secretary for the research policy (1990), and later state secretary and minister for development cooperation (1991).Within the first cabinet of Jean-Luc Dehaene he was state secretary for development cooperation (1991-1995).