New Constitution: the two scenarios of the plebiscite in Chile

The Chileans vote this Sunday in a plebiscite that it will decide whether the country will have a new constitution or they will continue with the one that currently governs and which was bequeathed by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).

Various polls have indicated this the “Refusal” would have triumphed to the new Magna Carta, drawn up by a Constituent Convention, also for the opposition to some controversial points, such as the autonomy of indigenous peoples and the recognition of their judicial system.

There are, however, some who think it has a chance to win “Approval” to get a new Constitution. Political analyst Pía Mundaca, of the think tank Espacio Público, believed that the result is “still wide open” and that despite this being the first compulsory election in a decade, it is not known how many of the 15 million voters called will actually vote.

Here’s a look at what will happen if the proposed new Constitution is approved or rejected:

What happens if you win “Approval”?

President Gabriel Boric will have five days convene the entire Congress and promulgate the new Constitution, which will enter into force ten days after its publication in the Official Gazette, at which time the current one inherited from the Chilean military dictatorship will be repealed.

Hence, Congress will have to pass more than one hundred bills needed to implement most of the 388 articles previously written by a convention 76 percent left-dominated.

What happens if you win the “Refusal”?

If the “Reject” option is set, The Constitution bequeathed by the military will remain in force.

However, the opposition represented in Congress and opposing the new Magna Carta, has pledged to promote a dozen reforms of the current Constitutionincluding one to replace the current subsidiary state with a rights-based social one.

The opposition promised to “ensure access and adequate exercise” of social rights in education, health and housingin a country where those with money have access to better and faster private services.

On August 10, Congress passed a law reducing the votes needed to reform the Constitution inherited from the military (from 66% to 57%)anticipating a possible triumph of “Refusal”.

The scenarios for Boric

President Boric has been involved in campaigning for the new Constitution, which he will have to enact if the “Approval” wins.

It is not entirely clear what steps would be required if the “Refusal” were to succeed.‘, although a couple of center-left senators have said they will promote a bill approved soon – which the Executive has not yet approved – to reform the current article 142 and that Boric may request the formation of another body. constituent operating in another choice.

The election service said it would take at least 140 days to call another election.

And regardless of what happens, analysts have said that the president will have to put into practice his plan with which he promised to transform the country and which he foresees tax reforms, health, pensions, education, which remained on hold until after the plebiscite was held.

AP Agency

PB