Chile Prepares for December Vote on New Constitution

On October 30, Chile’s Constitutional Council approved a new constitution, paving the way for a public referendum in December.

The council announced the news, revealing 33 votes for and 17 against. The proposal needed at least 30 votes to pass.

Different political groups showed support. The conservative coalition Chile Vamos gave 11 votes.

The Republican Party contributed 22 more. Conversely, 17 left and center-left councilors voted against it.

The approved draft spans 201 pages and contains 217 articles. It’s organized into 17 chapters. President Gabriel Boric will receive it by November 7.

After that, he will arrange a national referendum on December 17. He will also make sure the public knows about the draft.

This constitutional change has roots in Chile’s 2019 social protests. An earlier 155-member body made a proposal.

However, a 2022 referendum rejected it. The current 50-member council came into existence in June.

Lastly, a recent Cadem poll showed mixed public opinion. It found that 34% of Chileans support the new text. Meanwhile, 51% oppose it, and the rest remain undecided.

Background

This constitutional initiative is not new to Chile. In fact, it stems from widespread social unrest in 2019.

At that time, citizens took to the streets to protest inequality and other social issues. This forced the government to rethink the country’s legal framework.

Thus, the formation of a Constitutional Council began in 2021. Yet, its first draft didn’t pass public scrutiny in a 2022 referendum.

The 50-member council that approved the current proposal was a subsequent attempt. It worked more swiftly and was more limited in size.

Unlike its 155-member predecessor, it seems to have achieved a measure of success, at least in the council vote.

Public opinion, however, remains divided. According to a Cadem poll, more people are inclined to vote against the new constitution.

This indicates that the council still has work to do in gaining public trust.

Political dynamics have played a significant role. The fact that the conservative parties supported the draft while the left opposed it hints at underlying tensions.

This ideological split may influence the December vote. Finally, the outcome could set a precedent for how nations tackle constitutional changes following social unrest.