From 1976 till 1981, he worked at the Kredietbank as economist. In the meantime, he was elected in 1977 as national president of the Christian People's Party (CVP) youth wing (now CD&V).
From 1976 to 1981, he served as an economist at Kredietbank. Simultaneously, in 1977, he was chosen as the national president of the Christian People's Party (CVP) youth branch (now CD&V).