Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Chile votes overwhelmingly to rewrite constitution from Pinochet dictatorship

Celebrations break out across the capital, as 78% of Chileans vote in favour of constitution change 

Stuti Mishra
Monday 26 October 2020 06:29 GMT
Comments
Chileans celebrate at the main square of Santiago as the country votes to rewrite dictatorial era constitution
Chileans celebrate at the main square of Santiago as the country votes to rewrite dictatorial era constitution (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Chile has voted by a large majority to rewrite its Pinochet-era constitution, scrapping the text in favour of a new draft to be written by the country’s citizens. 

After a year of anti-government protests, an early count of Sunday’s referendum results showed around 78 per cent voted in favour of the change, sparking mass celebrations on the streets of Santiago with singing, dancing and firecrackers. 

The protests, a broad people’s movement against the system as a whole, had called for an end to the constitution created by General Augusto Pinochet in 1980, whose 17-year military rule was characterised by multiple human rights violations. 

Many of those who have come out on the streets to protest in recent months see the dictatorial-era constitution as the root cause of the country’s social and economic inequalities.

Thousands of people gather on the streets of Santiago, singing, dancing and lighting firecrackers
Thousands of people gather on the streets of Santiago, singing, dancing and lighting firecrackers (Getty Images)

Chileans were voting on two factors in the referendum: first, if the constitution should be re-written or not; and secondly if the the new constitution should be drafted by ordinary citizens or a board consisting of both legislators and citizens. The majority voted in favour of the former.

The specially-elected body will consist of 50 per cent women and 50 per cent men, who will be selected over time until 2022. Once a draft text of the new constitution is ready, another referendum will be held to ask Chileans if they agree with the new constitution, or if they want to go back to the old one. 

Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera, in a speech broadcast after voting concluded on Sunday, said: “Until now, the constitution has divided us. From today, we must all work together so that the new constitution is the great framework of unity, stability and future.”

He said any new draft must incorporate “the legacy of past generations, the will of present generations and the hopes of generations to come”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in