After the victory of the PDSR in the 2000 legislative elections and the re-election of Ion Iliescu as president of Romania, Năstase was elected president of the PDSR, which soon changed its name to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) after merging with another party. Năstase remained PSD president until April 2005 when he was replaced by former foreign minister Mircea Geoană at a party congress. At the same congress, Năstase was elected to be PSD executive president, the second most senior position in the party.