Article:
Chileans' Rejection of Draft Constitutions Again Makes Headlines
For the second time within a year, Chileans have expressed their dissatisfaction with proposed constitutions in a referendum. Recently, they overwhelmingly rejected the conservative-leaning draft, with 55.7% against the proposed constitution, as per the electoral office after over 95% of the votes had been counted. Conversely, 44.2% of voters supported the new constitution.
Critics, including the South American country's left-wing government, argued that the recent draft would regress certain fundamental rights. The document may potentially limit abortion rights, expedite the expulsion of foreigners, and offer tax benefits to homeowners.
The Long Road to a New Constitution
This wasn't the first attempt to author new constitutional articles for Chile. Last year, voters rejectedly dismissed a more progressive draft by a significant margin. This constitution would have ensured housing, education, and healthcare rights, enforced a 50% quota for women in all state bodies, and granted indigenous communities the right to self-determination. However, the proposal was criticized for going overboard within the conservative country.
The Enduring Legacy of the 1980 Constitution
The current constitution of Chile dates back to the 1980s and is a remnant of the military dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet. The charter significantly diminishes the role of the state, privacy-minimizing education, healthcare, and pension systems. Given that a new constitution was a primary demand following the social unrest of 2019, many are puzzled as to why this challenge remains unresolved.
Enriching Ideas
The polarizing debates surrounding the proposed constitutions were not confined to just fundamental rights. Various critics expressed reservations about the excessive length, strong ideological leanings, and overt radicalness of the proposed texts, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Additionally, the drafts failed to gain broad support, despite the strong impetus following the 2019 social unrest. The perceived lack of inclusivity and the bias towards left-wing ideologies likely dissuaded many potential supporters.
In comparison to the previous draft, the second proposed constitution introduced more progressive provisions on gender and identity rights, extending social and economic protections, and potentially strengthening regional governance. However, these differences were not sufficient to garner widespread support.
In light of the historical demands and the political divisions, finding a constitution that addresses the diverse views and needs of the Chilean population continues to present a formidable challenge. A new round of negotiations and drafting may provide an opportunity to create a consensus-based constitution that resonates with all elements of Chilean society.
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