 He became a member of the Diputació de Barcelona (Provincial Council) in 1983 as Provincial Deputy for Public Works.In 1987, he was appointed second vice-president of the Diputació and in 1991 he became delegate president for Agriculture and the Environment, a post to which he was appointed again in 1995.In 1999, he was appointed First Vice-president, and he was President of the Diputació from 1 July 2003.