Referendum - Chileans vote on new constitution
The referendum on a new constitution has begun in Chile. In the vote on Sunday, around 15 million voters were to decide whether the current constitution from the time of the military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet should be replaced by a new constitution. Right-wing and conservative groups campaigned for approval of the Constitutional Council's draft, while left-wing parties and associations argued for rejection.
The Constitutional Council was dominated by delegates from right-wing parties. Critics complain that the new constitution represents a step backwards in certain rights. For example, the draft could restrict the right to abortion, enable the immediate deportation of foreigners and establish tax advantages for homeowners.
This is already the second attempt to give the South American country a new constitution. Last year, Chileans 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.
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- Despite the conservative groups' efforts to approve the Constitutional Council's draft, many Chileans believed that the new constitution would take a step back in certain rights, such as potentially restricting the right to abortion and enabling immediate deportation of foreigners.
- The elections for this referendum took place in Santiago de Chile on a Sunday, with around 15 million voters deciding whether to replace the current constitution, which has its roots in the military dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet.
- Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, the failed attempt last year to pass a progressive draft constitution had shown that many Chileans were not ready for significant changes, such as granting indigenous communities the right to self-determination or ensuring a 50% quota for women in all state bodies.
- If the new constitution is approved, it could potentially negatively impact certain groups, like women and foreigners, and may not align with the progressive values that some Chileans advocated for during the previous constitutional draft.
Source: www.stern.de
