On Sunday, December 17, in a second plebiscite constitutional, the option to reject the proposal for a new Constitution was imposed with 55.76% of the votes compared to 44.24% who supported it.
The current Chilean Constitution, in force since 1980, was drafted during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and, although it has undergone 70 reforms, it continues to be seen by many as a symbol of the dictator’s authoritarian legacy and an obstacle to advancing social and economic reforms.
The future of the constituent process in Chile is uncertain. President Gabriel Boric has called for a dialogue to find solutions. Different options are being considered, such as carrying out renovations.
After four years of constitutional discussion that included two failed processes, Chile closed a chapter of political and economic uncertainty that began with the social outbreak of October 2019.
People’s mandate
According to analysts, the points of advantage that the option against, supported by the left-wing parties, achieved over the option in favor promoted by the right, oxygenates the government of President Boric and means a hard blow for the Republican Party and its leader, José Antonio Kast.
The Republicans failed in the effort to convince Chileans that this was a better Constitution than the current one and the safest way to end political, economic and social uncertainty.
José Antonio Kast, the leader of the ultra-conservative Republican Party, indicated, after learning the results of the plebiscite, that there was nothing to celebrate, but that thanks to his party the most urgent problems of the country such as security and immigration.
“This result gives President Boric himself a clear mandate: work, govern and take charge of the urgent problems of Chileans,” he stated.
Agreements and reforms
Everything indicates that the result shows that Chileans, more than a constitutional change, are concerned about the situation they face economically and socially, such as the rise of crime and drug trafficking, which is why they want the government to address the problems they face. they afflict them.
The rejection of the new Constitution has shown a deep distrust of citizens in political institutions. The social outbreak of 2019 revealed the need for profound social and economic reforms and, on the other hand, the plebiscite has deepened the political and social division in Chile.
President Gabriel Boric, just four days after the result of the plebiscite, called on the political class to reach agreements on the emblematic reforms, specifically on pensions.
“I think it is time to open a new stage of agreements, of results that are palpable for Chilean families. “To leave petty calculations and not only think about the next election, but about the solutions, that democracy gives results,” he stressed.
He added that it is necessary to reach agreements that improve the quality of life of Chilean families. Therefore, he believes that in terms of pensions, the time has come to get to work.
Destabilize Chile
The president of the polling company PARTNER 305, Daniel Quirós, indicated that the left-wing parties do not gain any advantage from the fact that the option against has won in the constitutional plebiscite.
“It is a blow for the left-wing parties, because it is not an issue whether they want a new constitution or not. “They have never been in favor of a new constitution, but rather in favor of a process to destabilize Chile,” he noted.
Quirós argued that the right, despite not being able to impose the option in favor of a new constitution, “achieved a win-win, because both with the constitution that was promoted as conservative, right-wing, as an opportunity for free enterprise, free market, public and private health and education, the same is maintained with the second, it is a win-win that the right and the Chilean people have had,” he noted.
Quirós stated that no results benefit Boric’s government: “A government with such low approval, one of the hardest hit in Latin America, no approval works for it. What he did do well was to say that this process is closed, really all the Chilean people have been requesting that he focus on the country issue.
He said that after the constitutional plebiscite the country continues to be polarized and fragmented even more, with a more extreme right, a more moderate right-wing center and the left still maintaining itself. “What is clear is that it is a conservative country.”
Uncertainty
For Quirós, this constitutional process demonstrated how uncertainty affects a country. He said that Chile over the last four years, this situation has affected education, health, and security. “Insecurity in the country has been growing considerably.”
“Finally this process is closed, where beyond winners or losers, the big winner may be Chile, there President Boric may have some possibility of rearranging his government.” He added that this plebiscite leaves an aspect that he considers very relevant, “Chile is a very conservative country, with traditional values that prioritizes it at this time,” he added.
He stressed that it is very contradictory to see the left celebrating that a new constitution was not made, that is very strange when they have been promoting the establishment of a new constitution for three years. “I think what is most affected is how the left goes back in this process.”
The future of Chile will depend on the ability of its political and social leaders to dialogue, listen and build consensus. The unity of the country and the well-being of the population are at stake. Deep reforms are needed to address social demands and achieve a more just and prosperous Chile.
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