REFERENDUM - Chile again rejects controversial draft constitution
For the second time, Chileans have rejected the proposal for a new constitution in a referendum. While they had rejected a very progressive draft over a year ago, the majority of them also voted against the right-wing opposition's proposal on Sunday. 55.7 percent of voters rejected the draft of the constitutional council dominated by conservative parties on Sunday, according to the electoral office after more than 95 percent of the votes had been counted. Accordingly, 44.2 percent voted in favor of the new constitution.
The second attempt also fails: Chile rejects draft constitution again
Critics - including the left-wing government of the South American country - had complained that the new constitution represented a step backwards in certain fundamental rights. For example, the draft could restrict the right to abortion, allow the immediate expulsion of foreigners and establish tax advantages for homeowners.
It was already the second attempt to give Chile a new constitution. Last year, voters had rejected a very progressive draft constitution by a large majority. It would have guaranteed the right to housing, education and health, stipulated a 50 percent quota for women in all state bodies and granted indigenous communities the right to self-determination. This apparently went too far for many people in the conservative country.
The current constitution from 1980 dates back to the time of the military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet. The tasks of the state are reduced to a minimum and the education, health and pension systems are largely privatized. A new constitution was one of the main demands of the social protests in 2019.
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- In terms of fundamental rights, critics argued that the recent draft constitution for Chile represented a regression.
- The Headlines on Sunday highlighted Chile's rejection of the opposition's proposal for a new constitution in the Referendum.
- Despite the left-wing government's support, the draft constitution that would have potentially restricted abortion rights and offered tax advantages to homeowners was rejected by a majority of voters.
- The Top news this week includes the news that Chile rejected the draft constitution in the Referendum for a second time, which was seen as a step backwards in certain rights by many.
Source: www.stern.de
