 He was eliminated in the first round with 19.3% of the vote, losing to incumbent Viorel Lis.He ran again in 2000, achieving the highest first-round total (40.12%) but losing in the second round with 49.31% to winner Traian Basescu's 50.69%.He was one of the independent candidates running for president of Romania in the presidential elections which took place on 22 November 2009.