 Two days after being removed from office, he announced that he would run for president in the December 2006 presidential election.According to official results, he placed second, with 11.65% of the vote, behind Ravalomanana, who received a majority in the first round.Lahiniriko received his strongest support in his home province of Toliara, where he won 45.95% of the vote, ten points more than Ravalomanana.