In late 2001, his Timorese Social Democratic Association nominated him as a presidential candidate in the first post-occupation election, held in April 2002. His opponent in the 2002 election was his friend, Xanana Gusmão. Amaral publicly stated that he expected to lose to Gusmão, but believed that East Timor's young democracy deserved to have a real competition in the race. Gusmão won the election in a landslide.
