Santiago (Chile)- Chileans overwhelming rejected a new progressive constitution to replace its dictatorship-era charter, dealing a blow to youthful President Gabriel Boric, who must now hammer out deals to create another document or change the current one.
Although the proposed charter was expected to be defeated in Sunday’s plebiscite, the almost 24-point win by the rejection camp was a shocking defeat for a document that was three years in the making and had been billed as a democratic effort to replace the constitution imposed by Gen. Augusto Pinochet 41 years ago.
With 99.9% of the votes counted, the rejection camp had 61.9% support compared to 38.1% for approval amid heavy turnout with long lines at polling states. Voting was mandatory.
Boric, who had lobbied hard for the new document, said the results made it evident the Chilean people “were not satisfied with the constitutional proposal that the convention presented to Chile.”
The president said there would likely be “adjustments to our governing team” as he seeks to find a path forward. Despite the loss, the majority believe the current constitution needs changing; they just felt the proposed one was not a suitable replacement, analysts say.
Boric made it clear the process to amend it would not end with Sunday’s vote. He said it was necessary for leaders to “work with more determination, more dialogue, more respect” to reach a new proposed charter “that unites us as a country.”
In Chile’s capital of Santiago, horns blared in celebration as groups gathered at numerous intersections to celebrate the results.
“We’re happy because we all want a new constitution, but one that is done right and this one didn’t fulfil the majority’s expectations,” said Lorena Cornejo, 34, waving a Chilean flag. “Now we have to work for a new one that unites us, this one didn’t represent us, and that was clear in the vote.”
Even some who favour the proposed document put a positive spin on the defeat.
“Although it’s true that I wanted it to be approved, this is a new opportunity to reform everything that people didn’t agree with,” Alain Olivares, 36, said. “We’re just going to have to wait longer to change the constitution.”