These elections are characterized by a lack of citizen interest, in contrast to the previous bustling process, which ended on September 4 when 62% of Chileans rejected the first proposed constitutional text in a plebiscite.
The Chilean polling stations opened at 08:00 (14:00 in the Basque Country) to vote for the second constituent elections in two years, in which more than 15.1 million people will experience the 25 women and 25 men who will form the Constitutional Council and be responsible for drafting a new draft constitution replacing the current one, approved in 1980 under the patronage of the dictator Augusto Pinochet.
These elections are characterized by the lack of public interestin contrast to the previous effervescent process, which ended on September 4, when, despite eight out of ten Chileans saying they wanted a new constitution in an earlier referendum, 62% of the census rejected the first proposal in a plebiscite , drafted by a progressive majority.
The drafting of a new constitution was the great promise with which then-President Sebastián Piñera (conservative) managed to appease a wave of protests in 2021 that they called ‘social outbreak’. A constitutional convention with a majority of independents, though left, made a first attempt that was ultimately rejected in September 2022, when the progressive Gabriel Boric was already in power.
The ruling party comes to this election divided and has two different lists: one consisting of the Socialist Party and the leftmost wing of the government (Broad Front and Communist Party), and another consisting of the ruling center-left parties plus Democracy Cristiana, which not exactly the opposition but also not a member of the government.
The right also comes in divided over three lists: the traditional from the Chilean Vamos (UDI, RN and Evópoli), the extreme right from the Republican Party and the populist one from the People’s Party.
One of the keys to the day lies in the seats won by these last two formations, which did not run in the elections two years ago because they were recently created and which have risen a lot in the polls, despite defending the current Magna Carta, in force since the dictatorship (1973-1990).
If the three rights get 30 seats or more, they have full control over the constituent body and can pass the rules without having to negotiate.
Polling stations are open until 6pm local time (midnight in the Basque Country) and the first results are expected to be available a few hours later.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
