The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem, demanded that lawmakers ending their term return their offices and computer equipment by December 9, under penalty of a fine equivalent to their last payment. The most coveted offices are those in the Legislative Palace, the center of all political negotiations, where the UCR and PJ have been the biggest beneficiaries so far, with their offices on the third and second floors. Menem's intention is to prevent agreements between lawmakers from the same political force to cede offices to each other, as the ruling party, close to the minority, aspires for the LLA block authorities to have offices in the Legislative Palace, according to the Argentine News Agency. In his note to deputies, Menem states that those who “complete their term or cease their functions for any reason must return all physical spaces, offices, and dependencies, as well as the furniture and electronic and computer equipment assigned to them as legislators, political block authorities, or commission members.” The note warns that if the return of property is not completed, “a deduction from the payment” will be made, which is due at the end of their term.
