Chileans Vote Down New Constitution

Posted on September 13, 2022 by morganworld982014

By Ronald J. Morgan

Nearly three years after the October 2019, uprising demanding social change rocked Chile the forces for reform have suffered a setback. Rejection of the new constitution Sept. 4, has, at least, temporarily sidelined a big part of the planned reform effort.

The defeat came even though voters had approved the creation of a new constitution by a large margin. October 25, 2020. some 78.27% voted for approval. But after rhe drawing up of the constitution with a 155 person convention support began to wane. While the constitution contained many social reforms of a cutting edge nature. affecting abortion, the environment and social benefits, presidential reelection and changes to the makeup of congress. the document began to draw criticism from moderates as too radical. The expansion of Indigenous rights to allow autonomy also was focussed on as radical. Former President Ricardo Lagos, 2000–2006, came out against the document giving moderates reason to vote down the new document. Just before the vote Boric admitted the constitution needed more work and vowed congress would enact more reforms. A number of fake news charges also circulated against the new document. These involved mostly abortion and indigenous rights reforms. 1,2.3.4,5.5a

On Sept. 4, some 61.9% of the voters voted No while 38.1% voted in favor. Still the rewrite of laws for the country of 19 million may be given another effort shortly. The current constitution, which is considered neoliberal. was adopted in 1980 under the Dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet,1973–1990.

President Gabiel Boric, 36, was sworn in as Chile’s youngest president in March. A former student leader. Boric was swept into office as part of the La Rebelion post protest reform movememt. Boric pledged following the rejection of the constitution to seek new paths to rewrite another more acceptable document. Protesters in the street have called for a second constitutional convention But a congressional reform of the 1980 constitution could also be possible.

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Boric faces a devided congress. His popularity has also slipped recently as a result of spriraling crime violence and increased inflation. The economy is also slowing down noticeably. The inability to bring an indigenous conflict in Southern Chile under control also has hurt the image of Boric as a leftist reformer. Analysts are calling the defeat of the constitutional rewrite a serious blow to Boric and a stunning defeat for the Approval/ Apruebo forces. After beating back the right in last years{ presidential election the right now has resucitated somewhat with the victory of the Rechazo campaign against the constitution.

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The day following the consitutional covention Boric announced the reshuffling of his cabinet saying that the defeat was “one of the more difficult moments I’ve had t live through.” Boric’s popularity has plummeted to 33% according to pollster CADEM. 6

The changes in the cabinet included removal of Izia Siches as interior minister. She was replaced by Carolina Toha. Toha once served as mayor of Santiago and as a cabinet minister under President Michelle Bachelet. Siches was the first woman interior miinister. She had risen to prominence as a young leader of the Chilean Medical College.

Boric also removed Sergio Jackson as cabinet chief and put him in charge of Social Development replacing Jeanette Vega. Vega resigned earlier. Ana Lya Uriarte replaced Jackson as cabinet chief. Boric also replaced Maria Begonña Yarza with Ximena Aguilera at the Health Ministry. Claudio Huepe was replaced by Diego Pardo at Energy, Flavio Salazar was replaed by Sylvia Diaz as Science Minister. The changes are being seen as a move toward the political center.

It is thought that the Right will also have more influence over any new constitutional reform effort.Chile’s Partido Republicano has shown the most enthusiasm for doing in all post October 2019 protest proposals. Former Presidential Candidate Alexander Kast called the Rechazo victory a “tremendous defeat for Gabriel Boric ” Kast’s Republicanos were the first to officially reject the constitution when it was finished this May. The Partido Republicano also has become the first opposition to Boric in the Chilean congress.

While the left has filled the streets with protesters demanding a continuation to the process of change other obscure right wing forces have launched threats. In recent days, members of the Chilean congress have received threatening e-mails seeking to derail any constituional rewrite. 7,7a,8

sources

1. Efectos Politicos triunfo rechazo plebiscito https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2022/09/11/1072486/efectos-politica-triunfo-rechazo-plebiscito.html

2. Encuestga en Chile 67 porcentajez quiere una nuvena constitucion https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2022/09/12/encuesta-en-chile-67-quiere-una-nueva-constitucion-y-la-imagen-de-boric-cae-a-su-pisio-mas-bajo/

3. Boric, La pinerizacion del presidente https://www.ex-ante.cl/la-pinerizacion-de-gabriel-boric-por-jorge-schaulsohn/

4 Chile’s Boric attempts relaunch honeymoon ends abruptly https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/chiles-boric-attempts-relaunch-honeymoon-ends-abruptly-84591899

5. Ricardo Lagos declaracion sobre una nueva constitucion. https://www.ricardolagos.org/2022/07/05/declaracion-sobre-una-nueva-constitucion/

5a.Plebiscito en chile la arda lucha contra las noticias falsas.https://www.dw.com/es/plebiscito-en-chile-la-ardua-lucha-contra-las-noticias-falsas/a-62960599

6,. Chile’s Boric Reshuffles cabinet https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/6/chiles-boric-reshuffles-cabinet-after-new-constitution-rejected

6. Ricardo Lagos declaracion sobre una nueva constitucion. https://www.ricardolagos.org/2022/07/05/declaracion-sobre-una-nueva-constitucion/

7. Chile Rejects New Constitution, New York Times analysis https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/04/world/americas/chile-constitution-no

7a. Kast tras la debate delback el apruebo Esta derrota es tambien su derrota https://gaceta.es/iberosfera/kast-tras-la-debacle-del-apruebo-boric-esta-derrota-tambien-es-su-derrota-20220905-0639/

8. Razones para el Rechazo de la constitucion https://www.nuso.org/articulo/Chile-plebiscito-constitucion/

9. Anti-constitucion amanezas contra congreso https://www.telesurtv.net/news/diputados-chilenos-denuncian-amenazas-20220911-0013.html

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