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.
Ilijesku je bio glavni protivnik glasanja o nepoverenju, tvrdeći da će to dati priliku Baseskuu ili da imenuje premijera po svojoj volji ili da sazove prevremene izbore, koji ne odgovaraju Socijaldemokratama.