Plebiscite in Chile: a strong message, with an air of “punishment” against Boric

The message of the polls was very clear. And a big blow to Gabriel Boric, who had opted for this Constitution which was categorically rejected. The president must act urgently and firmly to demonstrate that he still has the strength to lead Chile and lead it along the path of change required by much of society.

The advantage of The “refusal” exceeded all expectationsalthough polls have already shown almost certain victory for this option.

There is a feeling of a “punitive vote”. Now another stage begins in a country divided by a deep crack.

The president has already scheduled several meetings with the leaders of the Congress and representatives of various political spaces. He knows he will have to negotiate with Congresswhere it does not have a majority, to start a new constituent process.

Because despite the rejection of this text, the will for a new Constitution still seems alive in the country leave behind that of the dictatorship.

Announcement

“We want to hear all the voices to continue in this process, both to implement the text of the new Constitution, for which we have already convened various constitutionalists and various personalities of civil society, and to give continuity to the constitutional process as well. ‘another option, Refusal ”, said the president himself in the morning, after having voted in a school in Punta Arenas, in the far south of the country, when he did not expect such a victory for Refusal.

It is clear that the text that was put to the vote did not reach the expected consensus when drafting began in July 2021. The firm request for change that the Chileans expressed in the protests of 2019 and which was reflected in the invitation to draft a new Magna Carta was not reflected in the 388 articles that the Constituent Assembly presented to the president last July.

“What you perceive is that this document does not produce political and economic stability. The text failed to translate the social demands of the 2019 uprising, “he explained Clarione analyst Kenneth Bunker, of the consulting firm Tresquintos. “Many Chileans believe that this constitution represents a break that is not necessarily a good thing,” he noted.

The proposed Constitution that was rejected declares Chile as “a state of social and democratic law. It is multinational, intercultural, regional and ecological“. It also introduces the rights to housing, health and free education, among other essential rights.

The text establishes autonomous indigenous territories, recognizes a parallel justice system in those areas and proposes changes in the political system that have caused strong resistance, such as the elimination of the Senate.

Many sectors interpreted that the right to property was threatenedwhich gave disproportionate representation to indigenous peoples and which presented extreme changes that could generate instability.

Boric himself admitted weeks ago that this text has weaknesses that should be reformed and changed if approved.

what’s coming

Now he has to give a new imprint to his government. This former student leader who came to the presidency six months ago with a promise to move towards a more just and democratic Chile has seen its popularity plummet, now hovering around 30%.

There is a growing feeling here that this government, a heterogeneous coalition of left and center-left parties, was unable to start reverse the big issues that were raised as a priority when it arrived at the Palacio de la Moneda.

The economy is slowing down, inflation has reached record levels – 13% per year is expected – and unemployment worries a large part of the population. At the same time, the Mapuche conflict is intensifying in the south, with episodes of greater violence, and here in Chile, crime is becoming more and more of a concern.

In the midst of this cocktail of conflicts, the president must show management and generate trust.

“He will have to do it reorganize your coalitionhe will have to look for a more homogeneous cabinet, show a clear line of action against the opposition, “Marta Lagos, founder of the consulting firm Latinobarómetro, told Clarín.

The change of government will also be essential to calm the private world in the face of the reaction that the market could show, analysts point out here.

“It is an important defeat but not a terminal one. In the medium term, Boric can recover, ”interpreted analyst Bunker. But he must show clear signs without delay.