Menem ran in 2003 and won the greatest number of votes, 24%, in the first round of the 27 April 2003 presidential election; but votes were split among numerous parties.
Under the 1994 amendment, a presidential candidate can win outright by winning 45% of the vote, or 40% if the margin of victory is 10 or more percentage points.
This set the stage for Argentina's first-ever ballotage between Menem and second-place finisher, and fellow Peronist, Néstor Kirchner, who had received 22%, was scheduled for 18 May. However, by that time, Menem had become very unpopular.
Polls predicted that he faced almost certain defeat by Kirchner in the runoff.
Most polls showed Kirchner taking at least 60 percent of the vote, and at least one poll showed Menem losing by as many as 50 points.
To avoid a humiliating defeat, Menem withdrew his candidacy on 14 May, effectively handing the presidency to Kirchner.

Ángel Maza, the elected governor of La Rioja, was allied with Menem, and had campaigned for him.
However, weak provincial finances forced Maza to switch his support to Kirchner, which weakened Menem's influence even further.
In June 2004 Menem announced that he had founded a new faction within the PJ, called "People's Peronism".
He announced his intention to run in the 2007 election.
In 2005, the press reported that he was trying to form an alliance with his former minister of economy Cavallo to fight in the parliamentary elections.
Menem said that there had been only preliminary conversations and an alliance did not result.
In the 23 October 2005 elections, Menem won the minority seat in the Senate representing his province of birth.
The two seats allocated to the majority were won by President Kirchner's faction, locally led by Ángel Maza.

Menem ran for Governor of La Rioja in August 2007, but was defeated.
He finished in third place with about 22% of the vote.
This was viewed as a catastrophic defeat, signaling the end of his political dominance in La Rioja.
It was the first time in 30 years that Menem had lost an election.
Following this defeat in his home province, he withdrew his candidacy for president.
At the end of 2009 he announced that he intended to run for the presidency again in the 2011 elections.
but ran for a new term as senator instead.
Menem ran in 2003 and won the greatest number of votes, 24%, in the first round of the 27 April 2003 presidential election; but votes were split among numerous parties. Under the 1994 amendment, a presidential candidate can win outright by winning 45% of the vote, or 40% if the margin of victory is 10 or more percentage points. This set the stage for Argentina's first-ever ballotage between Menem and second-place finisher, and fellow Peronist, Néstor Kirchner, who had received 22%, was scheduled for 18 May. However, by that time, Menem had become very unpopular. Polls predicted that he faced almost certain defeat by Kirchner in the runoff. Most polls showed Kirchner taking at least 60 percent of the vote, and at least one poll showed Menem losing by as many as 50 points. To avoid a humiliating defeat, Menem withdrew his candidacy on 14 May, effectively handing the presidency to Kirchner.
Ángel Maza, the elected governor of La Rioja, was allied with Menem, and had campaigned for him. However, weak provincial finances forced Maza to switch his support to Kirchner, which weakened Menem's influence even further. In June 2004 Menem announced that he had founded a new faction within the PJ, called "People's Peronism". He announced his intention to run in the 2007 election. In 2005, the press reported that he was trying to form an alliance with his former minister of economy Cavallo to fight in the parliamentary elections. Menem said that there had been only preliminary conversations and an alliance did not result. In the 23 October 2005 elections, Menem won the minority seat in the Senate representing his province of birth. The two seats allocated to the majority were won by President Kirchner's faction, locally led by Ángel Maza.
Menem ran for Governor of La Rioja in August 2007, but was defeated. He finished in third place with about 22% of the vote. This was viewed as a catastrophic defeat, signaling the end of his political dominance in La Rioja. It was the first time in 30 years that Menem had lost an election. Following this defeat in his home province, he withdrew his candidacy for president. At the end of 2009 he announced that he intended to run for the presidency again in the 2011 elections. but ran for a new term as senator instead.
Carlos Menem