Chile’s bid to replace Pinochet-era constitution at risk of failure

Javier Alonso, a Chilean telecoms worker, voted in 2020 in favor of a landmark plan to replace the country’s constitution that dates from the era of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. Now his support is wavering.

Opinion polls this week showed for the first time that more Chileans would reject the new text than approve it, as it looks increasingly possible that it will fail in a national yes-no vote planned for September.

That would be a blow for its architects and supporters – including progressive new President Gabriel Boric – who hope it will underpin major economic and social reforms.

Many critics have argued that the current 1980 text is illegitimate due to its dictatorship origins that they say give right-wing parties an unfair boost and underpin deep economic inequality.

A referendum two years ago to replace the constitution won huge support after months of violent protests in 2019 against inequality, and an assembly was chosen to draft the new text.

But political squabbling within the assembly and a raft of proposals on areas from pensions to reforming Congress that are more radical than many Chileans had bet on has thrown the future of the new constitution into doubt.

“I haven’t decided if I’m going to vote to reject or approve it,” said Alonso – a sharp shift from 2020, when he volunteered as an election observer for the approve camp in the referendum.

He criticized the assembly representatives for making “wild proposals for five minutes of fame on Twitter,” which he said was harming people’s faith in the process.

“I’m starting to lose trust that something good is going to come out of this,” he said.

If the new text is rejected then the Pinochet-era version would remain in place, a major setback for the 36-year-old Boric, who took office last month pledging a social and economic overhaul.

“This government is very associated with the idea of building a new cycle that starts with a constitution that replaces Pinochet’s one,” said Cristobal Bellolio, a professor of political theory.

“If the (no vote) wins, it would be a political earthquake.”

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