Chile Constitution Vote: Why Did Chileans Reject Massive Change?

The Chile Constitution vote has concluded with 62% of voters rejecting the proposed draft of the country's constitution, which was described as the world's most progressive constitution. The rejection of voters on the proposed Chile constitution was much bigger than polls had earlier suggested.

BBC News reported that the old constitution was created under Gen Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.

Chile President Gabriel Boric said he would be working with Congress and civil society to create a "new constitutional process." Boric had supported the new constitution. Boric noted that they have to listen to "the voice of the people," adding that they had clearly "not been satisfied" with the proposed draft.

In October 2020, about 80% of Chileans favored replacing the old constitution created during Pinochet's rule, according to a referendum.

Chile decided to replace its constitution in 2019 after nationwide protests erupted due to a four-cent hike in subway fares. It left 30 people dead.

The New York Times noted that about four out of five Chilean voters wanted to scrap it in 2020 after political leaders had placed the nation's constitution up for referendum.

Chile Constitution Vote

Leftist Senator Isabel Allende said that the 1980 Constitution is "dead" without question. She is the daughter of the former socialist president Salvador Allende, who died in 1973 as Pinochet's military coup was nearing the presidential palace.

Chilean Senator Ximena Rincon called for a new constitutional convention. She was one of the leaders of the reject campaign, according to The Guardian report.

Meanwhile, the campaign calling for the approval of the draft has accepted its defeat, with Boric calling a meeting of party leaders at the presidential palace.

An initial plebiscite showed that around 80% of voters wanted to draft a new constitution.

One of the voters who cast her vote in a suburban area of Santiago said it was a badly written constitution, adding that there has been division in the country for a long time.

Many have also criticized the drafted document's guarantees for Indigenous people.

Chile Constitution

The drafted constitution includes 388 articles that change the political system, social responsibilities of the state, and minority rights. It would also guarantee adequate housing rights, the creation of a national healthcare system, and improved employee benefits, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Gender parity is also being pushed forward in the rejected proposed constitution. State bodies and public companies, among others, must follow gender parity.

The rejected constitution also noted that "nature has rights" and animals are "subjects of the special constitution," with the battle against climate change would be a "state duty," including protecting biodiversity, native species, and natural areas.

Meanwhile, indigenous groups would have to have reserved seats in representative bodies with their rights guaranteed on lands, territories, and resources. In addition, they must also be consulted on any issue that would affect their rights.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Sadness and celebrations as Chile overwhelmingly rejects progressive constitution - from Guardian News