Chileans vote against a new Constitution criticized as left-wing

A majority of Chileans voted Sunday to reject the proposed constitution that opponents claimed would move the country too far towards the right.

Over 13 million residents of Chile voted in a referendum either for or against the proposed changes to the South American country’s Constitution.

With nearly all the votes counted, 62 percent voted to reject while 38 percent voted to approve, according to the Chile Electoral Service.

Participation was required in this referendum

The failed proposals would have tilted to the left the existing Constitution, which has text that focuses on indigenous rights and gender equality.

The path to the referendum began in late 2020, when 80 percent of Chileans voted to draft a new constitution. Reuters reports that polls showed that uncertainty grew due to concerns about the constituants who were elected to write it.

One 54-year-old Chilean, who in 2020 voted to draft a new constitution, on Sunday voted alongside her daughter to reject the proposed text. Her concern was that some proposals could impact her pension.

” The main one is (indigenous) plurinationality, and then pension funds,” Rosemarie Wilkinson stated in comments to Reuters. “I have worked all my life, and I don’t want to share that .”

Try again

Leftist President Gabriel Boric voted early Sunday morning in Punta Arenas, and acknowledged the results Sunday night.

“The yearning for change and dignity require our institutions and political actors to work with more commitment, dialogue, respect and affection, until we arrive at a proposal that interprets us all,” Boris said on Twitter. Here we are. Chile !”

Long live democracy!

Los anhelos de cambio y dignidad exigen a nuestras instituciones y actores politicos que trabajemos con mas empeno, dialogo, respeto y carino, hasta arribar a una propuesta que nos interprete a todas y todos. Para alla vamos. Que viva la democracia y que viva Chile! pic.twitter.com/f5rQv2G5mJ

— Gabriel Boric Font (@gabrielboric) September 5, 2022

On Sunday, Boric, who had cast his vote on Sunday, promised that the government would work with all sectors to advance justice, equality and growth .”

Boris had previously said that if the proposals are rejected, then officials should work on the text to fulfill the mandate given by the 2020 vote to draft a new constitution.

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