He took office on January 14, 2000, representing the right-wing Guatamelan National Front. Upon becoming president he asked Juan Francisco Reyes López to serve as his vice president.
In the first round of the elections (Guatemala election, November 2003), he backed former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt to succeed him. However, he lost to Óscar Berger Perdomo, who was sworn in on January 14, 2004.