Chile rejects draft constitution: Five things to know

Chile rejects draft constitution: Five things to know

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Chileans have overwhelmingly rejected a draft constitution that would have replaced the one adopted during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

Analysts say some of the proposals it contained were too radical for most voters — a majority of whom have made it clear they want a new constitution, just not this one.

Here are five things you should know about possible factors behind Sunday’s vote, which saw 61.9 percent of voters reject the draft constitution:

– design confusion –

Much of the drafting process was combative, with even the opening session of the Constituent Assembly marred by protests from its own members.

Several issues had to be shelved, negotiators were unwilling to compromise, and verbal attacks were numerous.

“More than the result of the text itself, what people rated poorly was the way this process unfolded,” political analyst Marco Moreno of the Central University of Chile told AFP.

Voters have been put off by disrespectful behavior and “excesses” by some MPs, he said.

For example, one member reportedly cast a vote from the shower while others came to work dressed up as Pokémon characters Pikachu or dinosaurs.

– Too much, too fast? –

Many of the draft’s most groundbreaking proposals raised concerns that things might be changing too quickly and too much.

“There was certain content … that provoked resistance in broad sections of society and increased fear and insecurity,” said Marcelo Mella, a political scientist at the University of Santiago.

Majority-Catholic Chile has been deeply divided over draft proposals that guarantee abortion rights, declare access to water and health care human rights, and explicitly recognize indigenous rights, which some say undermine the goal of national unity .

“Part of the (draft) constitution is very ‘millennial’, and those ‘millennial’ values ??are not what the more traditional part (of society) wants,” said sociologist Marta Lagos.

Voters were also torn over a proposal to replace the Senate, the upper house of the bicameral Congress, with a so-called Chamber of Regions.

Although he would have represented regional interests better, he would have less power than the existing Senate. Critics feared this would weaken the opposition’s veto power and leave too much power in the hands of the president.

– Blame the President? –

After initial euphoria over left-wing President Gabriel Boric’s election victory last December, his approval rating recently fell to just 38 percent – just as much as the constitutional yes.

Boric, who had promised a right-wing “welfare state” in place of the neoliberal status quo, has had to grapple with social unrest caused in part by tough economic times, and some have now questioned the wisdom of dramatic policy changes.

“There is an important protest vote” in the outcome of the constitutional process, Moreno said.

After Sunday’s blow, Boric said he would reshuffle his government team and hold political talks on how best to restart the constitutional process.

– Economic role? –

After record growth of 11.7 percent in 2021, boosted by early retirement plans and government aid for people struggling with the pandemic, the Chilean economy entered a period of slowdown and high inflation.

“When our country decided to open the constituent process … it didn’t have the magnitude of the economic crisis that it has today,” Mella said.

“People’s perception of risk may have shifted given the dramatic change in economic conditions.”

– ‘Spiral of Silence’ –

While the “No” camp was to win, the margin of victory was unexpected.

Analysts point to the so-called “spiral of silence,” the phenomenon whereby people can hide their opinion on a controversial issue if they believe they are in the minority, including from pollsters.

The high turnout of more than 80 percent – 13 million out of around 15 million eligible voters – was unexpected, although participation was technically mandatory.

“Practically everyone who had to vote,” Moreno said, “did it. It wasn’t in any analysis.”

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