menem appointed cafiero ambassador to chile in 1992, and cafiero returned to elected office as a senator in 1993. he took part in the convention negotiating the 1994 amendment of the argentine constitution, which allowed for menem's re-election. the amended argentine constitution included article 129, which guaranteed buenos aires greater self-governance. the "indentente" (appointed mayor) was replaced by a "jefe de gobierno" (elected mayor), and the city council by the buenos aires city legislature. shortly before the historic, june 30, 1996, elections to these posts, however, senator cafiero succeeded in limiting the city's autonomy by advancing national law 24.588, which reserved control of the argentine federal police (the federally administered city force), the port of buenos aires and other faculties to the national government. the controversial bill, popularly known afterward as "ley cafiero" (the "cafiero law") was signed in 1996 by president menem, remaining a sticking point between successive presidents (most of whom have been peronist) and buenos aires mayors (none of whom have been).