Chilean voters headed to the polls on Sunday and rejected a proposed structure written by conservatives to switch the nation’s present Pinochet-era set of legal guidelines, created when Gen. Augusto Pinochet, a dictator, ran the nation.
The Related Press reported that as of late Sunday, 96% of the votes had been counted, with 55.8% against the brand new constitution and about 44.2% in favor.
The outcomes come over a 12 months after residents of the nation rejected a proposed structure written by left-leaning lawmakers, which was characterised as one of many world’s most progressive charters.
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Folks towards the draft of a brand new structure rejoice after the polls closed in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. For the second time in as a few years, Chileans voted in a referendum on whether or not to switch the present structure which dates again to the army dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. (AP Photograph/Esteban Felix)
However even the brand new constitution, which was drafted largely by conservatives, was criticized for being extra conservative than the one it was seeking to exchange – it aimed to deepen free-market rules, might have restricted some rights of girls, and diminished state intervention.
“From a perspective of coherence and respect for democracy, we recognize the results, Javier Macaya, the leader of the conservative Independent Democratic Union party said as he recognized the charter’s defeat.
The defeat means the Pinochet-era constitution will remain in effect. The constitution has been amended several times over the years.
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A poll worker prepares for a referendum vote on the draft of a new constitution in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. For the second time in as many years, Chileans vote in a referendum on whether to replace the current constitution which dates back to the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Ex-President Michelle Bachelet hoped, when she voted, that it would be defeated and that the current constitution would remain.
“I desire one thing unhealthy to one thing worse,” the AP reported Bachelet as saying.
The proposed structure contained articles that some discovered controversial.
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Chile’s President Gabriel Boric greets supporters as he arrives to vote on the draft of a new constitution in Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. For the second time in as many years, Chileans vote in a referendum on whether to replace the current constitution which dates back to the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. (AP Photo/Andres Poblete)
For example, the drafted proposal said, “the regulation protects the lifetime of the unborn,” which some feared would have made abortion fully illegal in Chile.
The country currently allows abortions for reasons of rape, if the mother’s life is at risk and if the fetus is unviable.
Another article under the proposed constitution would allow prisoners who suffer terminal illness and who are not considered to be a danger to society, to be granted house arrest.
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A poll worker prepares for a referendum vote on the draft of a new constitution in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. For the second time in as many years, Chileans vote in a referendum on whether to replace the current constitution which dates back to the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
But some of the left-wing opposition argued the measure may benefit people who were convicted of crimes against humanity during the Pinochet-era, when the dictator ruled between 1973 and 1990.
Lawmakers began writing a new constitution after protests in 2019, when thousands complained about the inequality in one of South America’s strongest countries, which was also politically stable.
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People against the draft of a new constitution celebrate after the polls closed in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. For the second time in as many years, Chileans voted in a referendum on whether to replace the current constitution which dates back to the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. (AP Photo/Matias Basualdo)
In 2022, voters rejected a proposed constitution that would have characterized the country as a plurinational state, prioritized the environment and gender parity, and established autonomous Indigenous territories.
The AP reported that one of the more recent polls by local firm Cadem indicated 46% of the people surveyed would vote against the new constitution, and 38% would vote in favor.
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Based on Sunday’s results, the difference was much closer than expected.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
