Members of the constitutional convention met on Saturday in Santiago to vote on the draft constitution. Negotiations for the new constitution have been going on for the last 10 months.
Chile, a Latin American country, has finalized the draft for a new constitution and if it gets enough support in the September plebiscite, its set to replace the constitution made during the authoritarian rule of Augusto Pinochet.
The draft constitution has 499 Articles which are to be reviewed and unified in the Harmonization Commission. Citizens will receive a proposal for a new constitution by July 5 at the latest, which is to be a part of a larger public discussion before the plebiscite.
The new president Gabriel Boric who was elected popularly in March has backed the new constitution. He came to power on the agenda to defy all the conventions and bring a feminist, environmentalist and socialist government.
Chile faced heavy protests in 2019, and millions of people came onto the roads, angered to live in a deeply unequal society. Politicians latched on to this opportunity and offered a new constitution to replace the Pinochet era constitution.
Chile is a host to almost two million indigenous populations who have gone represented for the longest time. The new constitution for the first time will provide them opportunities for representation and constitutional recognition. It even includes a clause for compensation of indigenous lands.
Since last year officials have debated over the draft of the constitution. It was made sure that the new constitution represents the wishes of all Chileans. There have been efforts to sabotage the whole process but so far it has managed to float.
It’s not the first time Pinochet’s constitution has come under heavy criticism. In 2005 under the presidency of Ricardo Lagos, the constitution was reformed but it still had the dictatorial elements.
It excluded housing rights and overly emphasised the market model which has been one of the biggest reasons for entrenched inequality in Chilean society.
Chile’s environment-friendly constitution?
Chile possesses a big repository of natural resources and for the first time, there is direct mention of the energy sector in the draft Constitution. There are clauses which will regulate the environment, rights of nature, new economic life and these new provisions enjoy huge support.
With the support of the new president, the transition to renewable energy has become politically easy. The fundamental provision is going to be “every person has a right to an affordable and same minimum of vital energy.”
The new constitution is going to favour renewable energy with a low environmental impact which is exemplary for even the most developed countries. The lead to saving the climate would be coming from a Latin country which lies in the middle-income bracket.
Though the ownership of minerals is going to be under state control. It will be allowing mining in the sensitive zone. But with the new constitution environmental concern would not be thrown out of the window. It is a little but a welcome change.
Chile’s past and future:
Chile is caught between the politics of the left and the right. Be it, Salvador Allende, from the left or August Pinochet the infamous dictator from the right, these leaders were radicals, reversing the policies of earlier regimes and seeking complete power to implement their policies. Politics has ruined the economy of Chile. It is one of the resourceful countries, having a large coastline to benefit from trade but it has been lagging for years.
Chile is one of the prosperous countries in South America but it faces the problem of inequality. Pinochet era policies helped the economy but proved disasters for the poor people. It has reached an extent that there are high class and low-class parks in Santiago.
Troubled with inequality people have chosen the new president who promised them a new style of governance. Chile is tilting toward socialist politics again and it had become necessary to provide some comfort to the poor. But the concern remains, excessive spending on public welfare can slow down the economy.
The new constitution is the hope for Chileans to transcend into the new era.
Edited by : Aaradhana Singh
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