His political career started in 1990, when he joined "Agalev" (the then so-called green party in Flanders) in his home town Merelbeke. In 1992 he founded "Jong Agalev", the youngsters division of the green party, in Merelbeke. In 1996 he was elected into the provincial council. He kept that mandate until 2006. In the local and provincial elections in
Merelbeke, Stefaan Van Hecke changed the provincial council for the city council. He led his party to victory, which led to him being chosen to lead Groen! in the provincial constituency of Eastern Flanders for the national parliament. ==References==