With 55.6% voting no and 44.3% voting yes, the population disapproves of the text; A referendum took place this Sunday (December 17th).
With 96% of the votes counted, Chile's new constitution was rejected by the population. The referendum took place this Sunday (December 17, 2023). 55.6% were against and 44.3% were in favor of the new Magna Carta. Voting began at 8 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.
It was the second time Chile had gone through the process to try to replace the 1981 constitution, which was enacted during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (19731990).
For those who do not justify their absence, the fine is 32,000 to 192,000 pesos (approximately R$182 and R$1,094 at the current exchange rate). Around 15 million Chileans were eligible to take part, including more than 5 million from the metropolitan region.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric arrived at his polling station in Punta Arenas at 11:41 a.m., nearly four hours after polls opened.
Speaking to journalists after the vote, Boric said that “regardless of the outcome,” his government “will continue to work in defense of the people.”
In late November, parties in Chile's governing base said they would not promote a third constitutional process if the country's Magna Carta proposal was rejected in the popular vote.
In a statement, the parties said they opposed the new constitution because they believed it “does not solve people’s problems.” The text was signed by: Partido Socialista, Partido Comunista, Convergencia Social, Revolución Democrática, Partido por la Democracia, Partido Liberal, Partido Radical, Partido Comunes, Frente Regionalista Verde Social and Acción Humanista.
The proposal rejected this Sunday (December 17) is seen by critics as maintaining the principles of Pinochet's constitution, which has been redrafted several times since its promulgation.
The text, written predominantly by rightwing and conservative politicians, addressed the main issues of the Chilean right, such as the opposition to abortion, the defense of private pensions and the private healthcare system. There was also less detail on issues of gender equality and the rights of indigenous communities.
In the latest poll conducted by Cadem between November 22 and 24, 46% of respondents expressed their intention to vote against the referendum amendment, while 38% said they would vote for it. This was the smallest difference since May. Read the full text (PDF 2 MB, in Spanish).
For experts, upholding the constitution is a “victory with the flavor of defeat” for the left and for Boric. It was the second constitutional proposal rejected during his government, which already has a high rejection rate.
Data from Cadem shows that the Chilean president has a disapproval rating of 65% and an approval rating of 30% among the population. He took office on March 13, 2022 after defeating rightwing candidate José Antonio Kast with 55.9% of the vote. His term initially began with 50% approval and 20% disapproval.