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View all search resultsChile’s democratic and institutional path
The Convention shall respect international treaties adopted by Chile, including human rights and economic aspects, such as the safeguarding of foreign investments and private property.
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n Oct. 25, 2020, just over a year after the massive demonstrations in our nation, Chileans voted to write a new Constitution, a process that, once again, bolsters the strong democratic tradition of the Chilean nation and that shows the proud commitment of our country with a peaceful and institutional conflict resolution.
By 78 percent voting “approve”, Chileans have decided through a democratic process in favor of the elaboration of a new constitution that ends the one imposed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. “This plebiscite is not the end; it is the beginning of a path we should all undertake together” President Sebastián Piñera said in an address from the presidential palace. “Until now, the Constitution has divided us” he added. “As of today, we should all cooperate to make the new Constitution become one home for all of us”.
At the same time, citizens overwhelmingly also opted for a fully elected constitutional convention to elaborate the new document. This organ will be integrated by 155 newly appointed representatives of which 50 percent will be women, being the first body in the world to draft a national constitution with full gender parity.
Political factions are still discussing the number and mechanisms for indigenous people to have reserved seats. Elections will be held in April 2021 to choose the representatives.
Once chosen, the body in charge should draft and adopt a proposed text for a new constitution within nine months; this deadline may be extended, one time only, for three more months. According to how it was defined in the “Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution”, two thirds of the representatives shall agree the new document to present it for a new ballot, which should take place in 2022 and will decide whether to approve or reject the proposal.
The process has been and will remain within a strict institutional framework and in no case the Convention is entitled to assume any other capacity than the one it was created for.
As a matter of fact, the electoral calendar, including presidential ballot, has remained unchanged for the next year. The Convention shall respect international treaties adopted by Chile, including human rights and economic aspects, such as the safeguarding of foreign investments and private property.
