he founded the movement for unity, solidarity and organization in september 1982, a reformist faction of the justicialist party, ahead of the 1983 return of democracy. the group, known as "renovación peronista" (peronist renewal), was defeated in the party's september 1983 nominating convention, however, by more conservative figures supported by lorenzo miguel of the steelworkers' union. cafiero was elected to the argentine chamber of deputies in 1985, and in 1987, governor of buenos aires province. elected president of the justicialist party national council, he ran in the may 1988 primary election for the upcoming presidential campaign. he failed to regain the support of the cgt, or to sway delegates from the smaller provinces, and lost to less well-known carlos menem, who subsequently won the 1989 general election.