They had refused the draft new constitution on September 4th. But the Chileans want the discussions to continue, even if they are struggling to agree on the rules for writing this new text.
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It has been almost two months since the Chileans rejected the proposal for a new Constitution, a progressive text in many aspects and supposed to replace the current Constitution, inherited from the dictatorship. However, around 70% of the population would like a new Constitution according to the latest polls. This is also what the president, Gabriel Boric, as well as the right, who nevertheless voted last September against the proposal for a new text, want. She finally pledged to negotiate for the constitutional process to continue.
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Discussions are progressing, but slowly. Because even if everyone seems to agree on the principle, we still have to define the rules for drafting this new text : who will write it ? How long will it take ? Should voting be compulsory? ? Only the rule of parity within the editorial body is unanimous for the moment.
Right-wing parliamentarians wanted to set limits, such as not touching “right to life”. In the constitutional text which was rejected, abortion was guaranteed. Other subject : the maintenance of “water rights” which disappeared in the old proposed Constitution. Limits deemed unacceptable for the left.
There are also internal differences that have arisen within the coalitions themselves, notably the presidential coalition, where the parties are also unable to agree on more technical aspects of the process.
Both the population and the government are caught up today in other issues : inflation, a fragile economy or problems of insecurity.
The Minister of the Interior wanted the new Constitution to be ready next September, in less than a year, to commemorate 50 years of the military coup and turn the page on the dictatorship. A goal that is difficult to achieve at the moment.