Stevaert was in 1995 also elected to the Flemish parliament and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004. Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens. He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on May 25, 2005.