He was the main opponent of the no-confidence motion, arguing that it would give Basescu the opportunity either to appoint a prime minister to his liking, or organise early elections that would not favour the Social Democrats.
Iliescu je bio glavni protivnik zahtjeva za glasovanje o povjerenju, tvrdeći kako će se time Basescuu pružiti prigoda ili da postavi premijera po svojoj volji ili organizira prijevremene izbore koji ne bi išli u korist Socijaldemokratima.