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.
Draft constitution Electoral Office Electoral Office at X
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Source: www.stern.de
