Voters in Chile reject second shot at new constitution
- The process to write a new constitution began after 2019 protests that paralysed Chile
- Result means that the current charter from the Pinochet era will remain in place
Chilean voters rejected a proposed new constitution drafted by a conservative-led committee, electoral service Servel said, meaning the charter imposed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will remain in force.
With 99 per cent of the referendum ballots counted, the “against” option prevailed with 55.75 per cent of the vote, compared to 44.25 per cent in favour, according to Servel, just hours after voting ended around 6pm on Sunday.
The latest version of a new proposed constitution was overseen by the far-right opposition Republican Party after voters roundly rejected a progressive draft in September 2022 that attempted to enshrine environmental protections and the right to elective abortion.
Leftist President Gabriel Boric said last month that it would be his last attempt to reform the constitution, in order to focus on stability and long-term development. His government had adopted a neutral position on the new draft.
“Today we are experiencing a new … day that, no matter the result, strengthens our democracy,” Boric said after voting in his hometown of Punta Arenas.