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| Convención Constitucional | |
|---|---|
| Name | Convención Constitucional |
| Formation | 4 July 2021 |
| Dissolution | 4 July 2022 |
| Purpose | Draft a new constitution for Chile |
| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Members | 155 |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Elisa Loncón |
Convención Constitucional The Convención Constitucional was the body convened to draft a new constitution for Chile following the 2019–2021 protest movement and the 2020 national plebiscite. Composed of 155 elected and reserved-seat members, it operated between mid-2021 and mid-2022 to produce a proposed constitutional text submitted to a national referendum. The process intersected with major Chilean institutions and actors including the President of Chile, the Congreso Nacional de Chile, and multiple political coalitions such as Apruebo Dignidad, Frente Amplio (Chile), and the Partido Socialista de Chile.
The origins trace to the social unrest beginning with the 2019 Estallido Social (Chile), which prompted demands for constitutional change and led to nationwide protests and strikes involving unions like the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores. Negotiations among political leaders culminated in the 15 November 2019 agreement at the Palacio de La Moneda and subsequent legislation enabling a plebiscite. The 25 October 2020 national plebiscite presented citizens with the binary choice between a new constitution drafted by a constituent assembly and retaining the 1980 constitution promulgated under Augusto Pinochet. The plebiscite result favored a new constitution and established the legal framework for the constituent body through the Ley de Reforma Constitucional and related acts of the Congreso Nacional de Chile.
The assembly comprised 155 members: 155 elected constituents including 17 seats reserved for representatives of indigenous peoples under provisions recognizing Mapuche people, Aymara people, Rapa Nui, and other indigenous nations. Election law reforms and the Servicio Electoral de Chile administered the election held on 15–16 May 2021. Seats were contested by candidates from national parties like Partido Comunista de Chile, Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, and numerous independents grouped in lists such as the Listas del Apruebo and constituencies reflecting Chile’s 155 district system. Rules on parity instituted gender-equality mechanisms linking to international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Mandated by the plebiscite and subsequent constitutional reform laws, the assembly had authority to draft a full replacement for the 1980 constitution, subject to a mandatory ratification referendum. Its powers included deliberation, proposal, and voting on articles spanning rights, institutional design, and decentralization. Limitations were set by organic laws and judicial review by institutions like the Corte Suprema de Chile regarding procedural disputes. The mandate intersected with the Presidency of Sebastián Piñera, the Ministerio del Interior, and administrative frameworks established by the Contraloría General de la República.
Delegates organized thematic commissions addressing topics such as social rights, political system design, environment, indigenous recognition, and national economic frameworks. Major debates involved proposals for a plurinational state recognizing indigenous autonomy, incorporation of environmental protections referencing the Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, revisions to the Sistema de Pensiones (pension system), health care reorganizations related to Fondo Nacional de Salud (FONASA), and electoral system reforms including discussions about proportional representation and presidential powers. Prominent figures and movements weighed in: leaders from Confederación de Estudiantes de Chile and civil society groups like ONGs focused on human rights, while academics from Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile provided expertise.
After inauguration on 4 July 2021, the convention elected its leadership, including president Elisa Loncón and vice presidents, and established internal regulations. It set up 7 to 10 commissions that drafted articles sent to the plenary for discussion and voting, following quorum and majority rules derived from the enabling law. Key milestones included the first plenary sessions, approval of rules of procedure, publication of preliminary proposals, and the final plenary approval of the constitutional text in June 2022. Deadlines for submission to a mandatory plebiscite were fixed by law, culminating in the referendum scheduled and held under the oversight of the Servicio Electoral de Chile.
The convention reflected a fragmented Chilean political landscape characterized by traditional parties, new coalitions like Chile Vamos and Apruebo Dignidad, and independent movements such as the Movimientos sociales born from the 2019 unrest. Public participation mechanisms included citizen initiatives, local assemblies, and digital consultations promoted by municipal networks like the Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades. Media outlets including El Mercurio, La Tercera, and international press covered proceedings intensively. Tensions with the Poder Judicial and the Presidencia over scope and timing emerged, while social organizations including trade unions and indigenous councils mobilized to influence the text.
The convention approved a proposed constitution which was submitted to a national plebiscite as required by the enabling framework. The draft encompassed comprehensive reforms on rights, institutional arrangements, and territorial organization, with provisions referencing international human rights instruments and indigenous treaties. Its legal status was that of a proposed constitution subject to ratification by popular vote under the auspices of the Servicio Electoral de Chile and final presidential promulgation procedures defined by the Constitución Política de la República de Chile should approval have occurred. Category:Politics of Chile