In the 1999 legislative elections, he placed second on the DP list (behind only Charles Goerens), with two being elected.
In 2004, Calmes came second again, with the DP falling back from their high-water mark in 1999, but the DP managed to hold on to their second seat in Nord, allowing Calmes to take his seat in the Chamber once more.
Calmes stepped down from the Chamber on 19 December 2007.
He ascribed this to wanting to give his successor, Fernand Etgen, time to experience the Chamber ahead of the 2009 legislative election, which Calmes had already decided not to contest.