In 2003 he replaced his MR colleague
François-Xavier de Donnéa as Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, provoking considerable resentment among parties representing the Flemish-speaking community as he was essentially a
monoglot Francophone, unlike his predecessors as Minister-President.
Resignation and succession Ducarme resigned in 2004 following allegations of improprieties by the newspaper ''
L'Avenir'' concerning his tax affairs. He claimed his fiscal status was fine and that he had been "shot in the back" by a member of his own party. He was succeeded as Minister-President by
Jacques Simonet and as president of the MR by
Didier Reynders. ==Later career==