Chileans vote en masse to decide on new progressive constitution

Polls have closed in Chile, the place voters turned out en masse Sunday to approve or reject a progressive new structure that will change its present market-friendly textual content relationship again to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

Chile’s election company expects to have outcomes inside a couple of hours.

Voting centres across the nation reported lengthy traces and excessive turnout as Chileans participated in a compulsory vote, which specialists say provides uncertainty to polls, which have persistently confirmed voters usually tend to reject the brand new textual content.

Diego Uribe, 35, a father of two who does not usually vote as a result of he is misplaced religion in political events, voted to approve the brand new structure in Puente Alto, a lower-income area in southern Santiago.

“This one is completely different,” Uribe mentioned, including that he would have voted even when it wasn’t necessary. “Approval is actual change for the longer term, free schooling, dignified well being care and extra rights.”

The brand new textual content is the results of an settlement reached to quell violent protests towards inequality in 2019 and focuses on social rights, the atmosphere, gender equality and Indigenous rights.

Whereas almost 80 per cent of Chileans voted to draft a brand new structure in late 2020, polls present public assist for the brand new textual content has dropped amid concern of sure proposals and controversies surrounding the constituents elected to draft it.

Greater than 15 million Chileans and residents are eligible to vote throughout greater than 3,000 voting centres, together with the nationwide stadium in Santiago, the place Rosemarie Williamson, 54, voted to reject the brand new structure alongside her 85-year-old mom.

Williamson voted to draft a brand new structure in 2020, however rejected the proposed structure in the present day, citing worries over a number of proposals.

“The principle one is [Indigenous] plurinationality after which pension funds,” Williamson mentioned. “I’ve labored my entire life and I am not prepared to share that.”

President Gabriel Boric voted within the southern metropolis of Punta Arenas early on Sunday and vowed to protect unity whatever the end result.

“Within the tough occasions we had as a rustic we took the trail of resolving our variations and transferring ahead with extra democracy,” Boric instructed reporters after voting.

He added that regardless of the end result, the federal government will work with all sectors to “advance in justice, equality, progress and improvement for everybody.”

Some polls from exterior the nation — together with from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea and China — have already closed and present a beneficial lead for the brand new textual content. Votes from Chileans residing exterior the nation traditionally skew extra progressive than the remainder of the voters.

Polls will shut at 6 p.m. native time however keep open for voters ready in line. Chile’s election company expects to have outcomes inside a couple of hours.

The variety of voters planning to vote no on the brand new textual content first surpassed the sure vote in April and has stored a various lead. The most recent polls earlier than a two-week blackout confirmed the No vote forward with 47 per cent in contrast with 38 per cent for Sure and 17 per cent undecided.

The ruling coalition has already agreed to switch the textual content whether it is authorised and 57 transitory norms will assist information the transition from one structure to the subsequent.

If the textual content is rejected, Boric has mentioned the method ought to restart to fulfil the mandate given by the 2020 vote to draft a brand new structure. Different political figures have mentioned the present structure needs to be amended given latest legislative adjustments to decrease majorities wanted to take action.