 Between 1976 and 1988 Spöri was a member of the German Bundestag where he served as parliamentary party spokesman on taxation and umpire in the finance committee.In 1988 he returned to Baden-Württemberg and was elected to the Baden-Württemberg Landtag.Four years later he ran for the post of Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg but lost to his opponent Erwin Teufel.