2020 Chilean national plebiscite

2020 Chilean national plebiscite
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Name	2020 Chilean national plebiscite
Native name	Plebiscito nacional de Chile de 2020
Date	25 October 2020
Country	Chile
Type	Constitutional plebiscite
Electorate	14,900,000 (approx.)
Turnout	50.9%
Result	Approval to draft a new constitution

2020 Chilean national plebiscite was a nationwide popular vote held on 25 October 2020 in Chile to decide whether to draft a new constitution and which mechanism would compose the constituent body. The plebiscite followed months of social unrest rooted in long-standing grievances and was organized under measures negotiated among major political actors. It resulted in a decisive mandate to replace the 1980 Constitution of Chile and initiated a process that reshaped alignments among political parties, social movements, civil society organizations, and international observers.

Background

Mass demonstrations that began in October 2019 in Santiago, Chile, Valparaíso, and other urban centers escalated into a national crisis involving street protests, strikes, and clashes with security forces. Key actors in the unrest included student organizations such as the Chilean Student Federation and labor unions like the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Chile, while prominent political figures including Sebastián Piñera and opposition leaders negotiated responses. The crisis invoked institutions like the National Congress of Chile, the Supreme Court of Chile, and the Ministry of Interior and Public Security as parties sought political solutions. International entities including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Organization of American States monitored events as allegations of human rights violations and police misconduct by the Carabineros de Chile and the Investigations Police of Chile drew scrutiny. Prior constitutional debates referenced the legacy of the Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990) and the 1980 charter promulgated under Augusto Pinochet.

Negotiations among parliamentary coalitions—Chile Vamos, the New Majority (Chile), and emergent coalitions such as Frente Amplio (Chile)—led to a political agreement known as the "Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution" approved by the National Congress of Chile. The agreement proposed a plebiscite to settle whether to initiate constitutional replacement and whether a conventional assembly or mixed body should draft the text, referencing experiences from constitutional processes in Iceland, Tunisia, and South Africa.

Referendum and Campaign

Campaigns mobilized a wide range of actors: established parties including Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, Partido Socialista de Chile, and Partido por la Democracia; leftist formations such as Partido Comunista de Chile; new movements like No+AFP and community organizations from Araucanía Region; and civic groups including the Chile Vamos opposition and pro-change coalitions. Leading personalities who campaigned publicly included former presidents Michelle Bachelet and Ricardo Lagos, business leaders associated with the Confederación de la Producción y del Comercio, and intellectuals from universities such as the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

The "Approve" campaign emphasized replacing the Constitution of Chile (1980) to address pension reform tied to Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, healthcare reform invoking the Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo dialogues, and social rights including housing and education referencing the 1990s educational reform protests. The "Reject" campaign foregrounded concerns about institutional stability, property rights, and economic models tied to capital market actors and free-market advocates. Media outlets such as El Mercurio (Chile), La Tercera, Televisión Nacional de Chile, and digital platforms hosted debates, while civil society organizations organized assemblies and town halls across regions like Biobío Region and Maule Region.

Voting Process and Security

Given the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic, electoral authorities including the Servicio Electoral de Chile and the Ministerio de Salud (Chile) implemented sanitary protocols. Measures included extended voting hours, mandatory mask use, physical distancing at polling stations managed by the Municipalities of Chile, and staggered voting times for vulnerable groups, with logistical support from the Carabineros de Chile under oversight from the Ministerio del Interior. International and domestic observers from the Organization of American States and local electoral watchdogs monitored compliance.

Security concerns reflected both pandemic constraints and the potential for renewed unrest. The government deployed public order strategies coordinated through the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of the Chilean Armed Forces while the National Prosecutor of Chile and human rights institutions prepared to document incidents. Polling integrity relied on voter registration managed by the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile and ballot procedures overseen by trained municipal officials, with results tallied at local junta escrutadora stations and transmitted to the Consejo del Servel.

Results

The plebiscite yielded a clear outcome: the "Approve" option won a large majority, while the "Constitutional Convention" model for a fully elected constituent assembly prevailed over the mixed commission alternative. Voter turnout varied regionally, with strong participation in metropolitan areas like Santiago Metropolitan Region and striking results in regions with active protest movements such as Araucanía Region and Los Lagos Region. The official count announced by the Servicio Electoral de Chile confirmed the quantitative result and set timetables for constituent election rules administered by the National Congress of Chile.

International reactions included statements from the United Nations, the European Union, regional governments such as Argentina and Mexico, and financial markets monitored by the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero. Domestic political response ranged from congratulatory remarks by leaders across the spectrum to strategic recalibrations by parties including Renovación Nacional and Partido Comunista de Chile.

Aftermath and Political Impact

Following the plebiscite, the National Congress of Chile enacted legislation setting parameters for the constituent process, including gender parity rules and reserved seats for indigenous peoples referencing dialogues with Consejo de Todas las Tierras and indigenous organizations like the Mapuche movement. Subsequent elections for the Constitutional Convention (Chile) saw fragmentation in party representation and the emergence of independents and social movement candidates. The process influenced policy debates on pension reform involving the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, health policy linked to the Ministerio de Salud (Chile), and decentralization measures affecting regional institutions.

Longer-term effects included realignments within coalitions such as Chile Vamos and Nueva Mayoría, shifts in public trust metrics reported by institutions like the Centro de Estudios Públicos and the Latinobarómetro, and renewed engagement from civil society players including trade unions and student federations. The constitutional process became a focal point for comparative scholars studying constitution-making in transitional contexts, linking the Chilean experience with precedents in South Africa and post-authoritarian processes in Spain and Portugal.

Category:Politics of Chile Category:Constitutional referendums