In 1979 he became a member of the Vorarlberg Landtag. In 1981 he became Klubobmann of the ÖVP in the Landtag, 1986 he became the chairman of the Vorarlberg ÖVP.
In 1979 he joined the Vorarlberg Landtag. In 1981 he became Klubobmann of the ÖVP in the Landtag, and in 1986 he was elected chairman of the Vorarlberg ÖVP.