 The interim President Adolfo Rodríguez Saá appointed Das Neves Director of Customs at the end of 2001, and he consequently resigned his seat in Congress; when a few days later Eduardo Duhalde became President, he retained Das Neves as Director of Customs.He clashed with Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna, however, and resigned.Das Neves stood to be Governor of Chubut in November 2003 against the UCR incumbent, José Luis Lizurume.