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Associated Press

Chileans are voting in a referendum on Sunday on whether to adopt a far-reaching new constitution that would fundamentally change the South American country.
The proposed charter is intended to replace a constitution imposed by a military dictatorship 41 years ago.
For months, opinion polls have shown a clear advantage for the rejection camp, but the difference has been narrowing, giving hope to the charter’s supporters that they can pull a victory.
“We are clearly in a situation in which the result will be close,” said Marta Lagos, head of MORI, a local pollster. “The Chilean is a political animal who decides at the last minute.”
Chile to tear up Pinochet-era constitution after landmark vote
The outcome will have a resounding impact on President Gabriel Boric, 36, who has been one of the main proponents of the new constitution. Analysts say voters also likely view the vote as a referendum on Chile’s youngest-ever president, whose popularity has plunged since taking office in March.
Voting is mandatory in the plebiscite, which climaxes a three-year process that began when the country once seen as a paragon of stability in the region exploded in student-led street protests in 2019. The unrest was sparked by a hike in public transport prices, but it quickly expanded into broader demands for greater equality and more social protections.
Chile’s president runs into trouble, just 6 weeks in office
The following year, just under 80 per cent of Chileans voted in favour of changing the country’s constitution that dates from the country’s 1973-1990 military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet.
Then in 2021, they elected delegates to a constitutional convention. Amid the anti-establishment fervour of the time, Chileans largely chose people outside the traditional political establishment to draft the new constitution. It was the first in the world to be written by a convention split equally between male and female delegates.
After months of work, delegates came up with a 178-page document with 388 articles that, among other things, puts a focus on social issues and gender parity, enshrines rights for the country’s indigenous population and puts the environment and climate change on centre stage in a country that is the world’s top copper producer. It also introduces rights to free education, healthcare and housing.

The new constitution would characterise Chile as a pluri-national state, establish autonomous indigenous territories and recognise a parallel justice system in those areas, although lawmakers would decide how far-reaching that would be.
In contrast, the current constitution is a market-friendly document that favours the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions and healthcare. It also makes no reference to the country’s indigenous population, which makes up almost 13 per cent of the country’s 19 million people.
“This is a door to build a more just, more democratic society,” said Elisa Loncon, an indigenous leader who was the first president of the convention. “It isn’t as if Chile will wake up with all its political and economic problems automatically resolved, but it’s a starting point.”
Hundreds of thousands of people took over a main avenue in Chile’s capital on Thursday night at the closing rally of the pro-charter campaign, a turnout that proponents say shows a level of excitement the polls do not reflect.

“Polls have not been able to capture the new voter, and above all, the young voter,” Loncon said.
Once the convention got to work, Chileans quickly began souring on the proposed document, with some worrying it was too far left. It is “an imposition by leftist radicals on society at large,” said Paulina Lobos, who has been campaigning against the proposed document.
Supporters say that was at least in part due to a flood of fake news that spread lies about the proposed constitution.
But it was not just about the document’s contents. Chileans also grew frustrated at the convention delegates who often made headlines for the wrong reasons, such as one who lied about having leukeumia and another who cast a vote while taking a shower.

“An opportunity was missed to build a new social pact in Chile,” said Sen. Javier Macaya, head of the conservative Independent Democratic Union party that is campaigning against the new constitution. “We are defending the option to reject (the document) so we have a new chance to do things better.”
Macaya insists it is important for a new constitution to win approval by a broad margin “through consensus and compromise.”
Although Chileans, including the country’s political leadership, largely agree the dictatorship-era constitution needs to be tossed out, how that will be achieved if the current proposal is rejected remains to be seen.
“If it’s rejected, what is institutionalised is maintaining Pinochet’s constitution – that constitution that no longer answers the needs of Chilean society,” Loncon said.


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Chile votes on proposed constitution to replace one imposed by military dictatorship 41 years ago

Soldiers provide security at a polling station being set up ahead of Sunday’s referendum on whether to adopt a new constitution, in Santiago. Photo: AFP

A poll worker takes a selfie during preparations for a referendum vote on the draft of a new constitution, at a polling station in Santiago, Chile on September 3. Voters go to the polls Sunday to ratify a new constitution to reject the current constitution that was imposed by the Augusto Pinochet military dictatorship 41 years ago. Photo: AP

Demonstrators during an “Apruebo” rally ahead of Chile’s constitutional referendum at Alameda Avenue in Santiago, Chile, on September 1. Photo: Bloomberg

Soldiers provide security at a polling station being set up ahead of Sunday’s referendum, when a proposed new constitution, drafted over a year by a specially-elected assembly of 154 members, comes up for approval. Photo: AFP

Chile to tear up Pinochet-era constitution after landmark referendum

Celebrations erupt in Santiago’s Plaza Italia, the focus of the massive and often violent social protests last year. Photo; Reuters

View of La Moneda presidential palace, in Santiago on October 25, 2020 following the results of the constitutional referendum voting. - Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called Sunday on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. (Photo by CLAUDIO REYES / AFP)

(FILES) This September 1973 file photo shows Gen. Augusto Pinochet (C) posing with unidentified army officers in Santiago, Chile, a few days following the 11 September bloody coup he led to overthrow leftist president Salvador Allende. Pinochet ruled Chile with an iron fist until 1990 before returning to Chile's army command under the presidency of Patricio Aylwin. Pinochet, now 82, who has been accused by leftist and human rights groups of genocide and human rights violations, is scheduled to retire from his post10 March to take a lifetime senate seat as a former president under the terms of the constitution approved during his rule. AFP PHOTO [taken by Chas GERRETSEN].

Chile gets youngest-ever president in ex-student protest leader Gabriel Boric

Chile’s new President Gabriel Boric flashes a victory sign after his swearing-in ceremony on Friday in Valparaiso, Chile. Photo: AP

Supporters watch a speech by Gabriel Boric, the recently inaugurated president of Chile, in Santiago on Friday. Photo: EPA

Workers hang a photograph of Gabriel Boric, Chile’s new president, as they remove one of his predecessor Sebastian Pinera. Photo: Marcelo Segura/Chile’s Presidency via EPA

Workers at BHP Billiton’s Escondida, the world’s biggest copper mine, in Antofagasta, northern Chile. Photo: Reuters

Chile elects 35-year-old leftist millennial Gabriel Boric president, among world’s youngest leaders

Chile’s President-elect Gabriel Boric. Photo: AP

Supporters of Gabriel Boric celebrates his victory in the presidential run-off election in Santiago, Chile. Photo: AP

Gabriel Boric celebrates with supporters after winning the presidential election in Santiago, Chile. Photo: Reuters

Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera is leaving office with a low approval rating. Photo: Reuters

Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera facing impeachment over Pandora Papers claims

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. Photo: AFP

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera and his friend, businessman Carlos Alberto Delano, ride their bikes in Zapallar, Chile October 30, 2011. Picture taken October 30, 2011. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido

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The current constitution favours the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions and healthcare
The new constitution would characterise Chile as a pluri-national state, establish autonomous indigenous territories



The new constitution would characterise Chile as a pluri-national state and establish autonomous indigenous territories. The old constitution had no mention about Chile’s indigenous population that made up nearly 13 per cent of the population.
