Why in news?
Chile voted in favour of replacing its Constitution with a new document.
What is the story behind?
- In 2019, Chile was shaken by mass protests.
- So, the conservative President, Sebastián Piñera, agreed to hold a referendum on rewriting the country’s Constitution.
- This Constitution was introduced during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
- It was approved in a fraudulent plebiscite in 1980.
- It was the main hurdle in introducing social and economic reforms.
- Now, 78% of Chileans voted in favour of replacing the charter with a new document.
Was any attempt made previously to replace it?
- Since its transition to democracy in 1990, Chile has amended the Constitution to take away many of its anti-democratic features.
- But the document, which has enshrined the conservative free-market philosophies of the Milton Friedman School, stayed on.
- It allowed the private sector to thrive and helped the economy expand.
- But it also led to the concentration of wealth in a minuscule minority, triggering social tensions.
Why did 2019 protests happen?
- Protests erupted last year over a small rise in metro fares.
- But it soon snowballed into a public agitation demanding reforms,
- An abolition of the private pension fund system, implemented by Gen. Pinochet,
- An increase in investments in education and health care, and
- Strengthening of the rights of the indigenous communities.
- The protesters also demanded an overhaul of the Constitution as it was impossible to introduce far-reaching reforms with the current charter.
- With the recent plebiscite results, they have won the first stage.
What will happen?
- Replacing the Constitution is going to be a two-year process.
- In 2021, Chileans will elect a 155-member Assembly to draft the new document, which will then be put to a plebiscite in 2022.
- Half the delegates will be women.
- The new Constitution is also expected to be a heated political issue, with the general elections next year.
- But despite the political and procedural challenges, it offers a fresh opportunity for Chile to say goodbye to a dark era.
What will a new charter mean?
- Now, through a democratic process, Chileans can bury the document and introduce a modern democratic charter.
- It offers them an opportunity to right the systemic wrongs of the past.
- It will also chart out a more inclusive economic and social system that works well for all Chileans.
Source: The Hindu
