CHILE
Crossroads
Chilean independent and left-leaning candidates secured the majority of the seats in Sunday’s elections to pick the 155 delegates that will draft a new constitution in the South American nation, Reuters reported Monday.
With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, President Sebastian Pinera’s center-right Chile Vamos coalition only secured one-fifth of the vote.
Candidates of the ruling coalition also suffered defeats in mayoral, gubernatorial and municipal elections held simultaneously, which underscores a loss of support for Pinera’s government ahead of the general and presidential polls in November.
The new delegates will decide how to rewrite the current constitution drafted during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which is widely perceived as favoring big business over the rights of ordinary citizens.
Delegates will spend 12 months debating and formulating the new text, which will then be voted on in a referendum. If it fails, Chile will revert to the current constitution.
Major points of contention are potential changes to private land and water rights as well as reform of employment legislation that could threaten the interests of traditional investors.
Pinera warned that some changes could threaten Chile’s status as one of the wealthiest and most stable democracies in the region.
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