Chileans will vote for a new draft constitution this Sunday, after overwhelmingly rejecting another similar project last year.
SANTIAGO, CHILE –
More than 15 million Chileans are called this Sunday to vote “for” or “against” a new constitutional proposal to replace the Magna Carta, in force since the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, after the attempt failed last year .
The new text, written by a majority of right-wing and far-right voters, is both morally and economically more conservative than the text it seeks to replace, as it could deepen free market principles, reduce government intervention and limit some rights , such as B. Reproductive rights.
The vote comes a year after Chileans rejected, with 62% of the vote, another similar project drawn up at the time by a left-wing majority voter that many described as one of the most progressive constitutional initiatives in the world.
Whatever the result of the referendum, it all seems to be the end of a process that began after the social outbreak of 2019, when thousands of Chileans took to the streets to demand better pensions, health and education and to end inequalities , protests that were unprecedented The history of this South American country is considered one of the most stable democracies in the region.
If voters reject the new text, the 1980 text, drafted by the military regime of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) but reformed up to 70 times, will remain in force.
Also read: Chileans vote again in referendum on proposal for a new constitution
The new constitutional proposal states that Chile is a social and democratic state that “promotes the progressive development of social rights” through public and private institutions. His critics claim that although there is freedom of choice in health, education or pensions, only those with purchasing power can vote.
Feminist groups and figures such as former President Michelle Bachelet denounce that changing the wording of the new proposal could pave the way for the abolition of therapeutic abortion on three grounds (rape, endangerment of the mother's life or non-viability of the fetus), which has been in effect since 2017 They also denounce setbacks in social services or political participation.
The initiative also contains controversial elements on issues such as immigration, by enshrining the expulsion of irregular immigrants “as quickly as possible”, conscientious objection by institutions, the right to strike or the tax exemption of contributions for the first home.
Supporters of the text point out that it is a modern text that enshrines issues that concern citizens, such as security or freedoms, and that it will give the country certainty to emerge from a long period of uncertainty.
The second constitutional process, unlike the first, was characterized by dissatisfaction, apathy and low participation of citizens who turned their backs on it, partly due to the setback that the failure of the first for the most progressive, but mentioned above, meant everything, everything, due to the exhaustion that citizens face after ten electoral processes in less than two and a half years.
Also read: 55 people accused of the largest tax fraud in Chile's history
Whatever result is imposed, the ruling party will not have much to celebrate, and if President Gabriel Boric wins the rejection, several political parties have also assured that they will not support a third constitutional attempt.
The latest polls gave the rejection of the text, the option promoted by the ruling party, an advantage, about eight points ahead of those who support it, the opposition groups. But in all polls the difference has narrowed in recent weeks as there are significant numbers of undecided or changing opinions, leaving much uncertainty about the results.
News of an unfortunate week for the government could also impact results.
The arrest and detention of the two protagonists, who are accused of a corruption case against a party in the ruling coalition, was announced on Wednesday. The next day, a person previously pardoned by the President was arrested for kidnapping.
And on Saturday, a shooting at a mall in a middle-class neighborhood of the capital that left no casualties was the latest example of one of the issues most worrying Chileans: security.
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