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| Plebiscite on the new constitution (2020) | |
|---|---|
| Title | Plebiscite on the new constitution (2020) |
| Date | 25 October 2020 |
| Country | Chile |
| Type | Constitutional plebiscite |
| Electorate | 15,435,000 (approx.) |
| Turnout | 51.2% |
| Outcome | Approval to convene a Constitutional Convention |
Plebiscite on the new constitution (2020) The plebiscite on the new constitution (2020) was a national vote in Chile held on 25 October 2020 to decide whether to draft a new Constitution of Chile and by what mechanism. The ballot asked voters to choose between approving or rejecting a constituent process and whether the drafting body should be a popularly elected Constitutional Convention or a mixed body including members of the National Congress of Chile. The result approved a new constitution to be written by a fully elected convention.
The plebiscite followed months of mass demonstrations beginning in October 2019, sparked by a rise in Santiago subway fares that quickly expanded into nationwide protests addressing inequality, pensions, and social services. Demonstrations involved organizations such as the Centro de Estudios Públicos, Confederación de la Producción y del Comercio, and unions aligned with the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores. Key actors included political figures like Sebastián Piñera, Gabriel Boric, Beatriz Sánchez, Joaquín Lavín, Carolina Tohá, and Daniel Jadue. The unrest prompted a political agreement at the Palacio de La Moneda between centrist and opposition parties including Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, Partido Socialista de Chile, and Frente Amplio, culminating in the Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution.
The negotiated framework established how a new constitution would be drafted if the plebiscite approved. The process drew on experiences from constitutional change in countries such as Spain (1978), South Africa (1996), and Iceland (2012–2013). The Chilean arrangement envisaged a popularly elected Constitutional Convention with gender parity and reserved seats for indigenous peoples like the Mapuche, Aymara, Rapa Nui, and Kawésqar. Legal scholars from Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and international bodies such as the United Nations and Organization of American States provided technical advice. Debates referenced doctrines from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and comparative constitutions including the Constitution of Argentina and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.
The campaign period featured coalitions across the political spectrum. Supporters of a new constitution included parties and movements such as Partido Comunista de Chile, Frente Amplio, Partido por la Democracia, and civil society groups like No+AFP, Asamblea Nacional de FFAA y Carabineros, and student federations from Universidad de Concepción. Opponents comprised contingents from Chile Vamos, business groups like the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril, and media outlets such as El Mercurio and La Tercera. High-profile endorsements or criticisms came from international figures and institutions such as Pope Francis, Amnesty International, and the International Monetary Fund indirectly via macroeconomic commentary. Cultural actors including Isabel Allende, Violeta Parra's legacy advocates, and musicians linked to Nueva Canción Chilena participated in rallies. Social media platforms operated by companies like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were battlegrounds for campaigning that also involved legal disputes before the Supreme Court of Chile and interventions by the Electoral Service of Chile.
The plebiscite was organized by the Electoral Service of Chile (Servel) under exceptional public health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic; measures included extended voting hours, increased polling stations, and sanitation requirements. International electoral observers from the Organization of American States, the European Union, and NGOs such as The Carter Center monitored voting. Ballot design presented two questions: "Approve / Reject" and "Conventional / Mixed". Voting procedures referenced precedents like the 1990 Chilean transition plebiscite and electoral legislation from the Ley Orgánica Constitucional sobre Votaciones Populares y Escrutinios. Logistics involved municipal administrations like the Municipality of Santiago, transport services such as Metro de Santiago, and security deployments coordinated with the Carabineros de Chile and Chilean Army in subdued roles.
The official count showed approximately 78% voting to approve drafting a new constitution and about 79% choosing an elected Constitutional Convention. Voter turnout was near 51%, higher than some prior national consultations but lower than the massive street participation in 2019. Regional patterns showed strong "Approve" margins in urban areas like Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción, while some rural provinces exhibited higher "Reject" votes. The tallying process was certified by Servel and reviewed by the Contraloría General de la República.
Domestic responses ranged from jubilation in squares such as Plaza Baquedano to caution from business chambers including the Confederación de la Producción y del Comercio (CPC). Political leaders issued statements: Michelle Bachelet welcomed the result, while Sebastián Piñera called for unity. International reactions included congratulations and offers of technical assistance from heads of state and organizations including Justin Trudeau, Angela Merkel, Pope Francis via the Holy See, the United Nations Secretary-General, and electoral missions from the OAS and the European Union Observation Mission.
Following ratification of the plebiscite outcome, the Chilean Congress passed implementing laws setting election rules for the Constitutional Convention and mechanisms for indigenous representation, invoking constitutional procedures in the Constitution of Chile (1980) transitional provisions. Legal challenges were filed with the Constitutional Court of Chile concerning quorum rules, gender parity, and reserved seats; the court adjudicated several contested provisions. Politically, the plebiscite reshaped party dynamics, influencing the agendas of Partido Socialista de Chile, Partido Demócrata Cristiano, Republican Party (Chile), and newer movements like Movimiento Autonomista. The process led to the subsequent 2021 constituent elections and ongoing debates about ratification, amendment procedures, and implications for institutions such as the Central Bank of Chile, Contraloría General de la República, and the judicial architecture influenced by the Supreme Court of Chile.
Category:Politics of Chile Category:2020 referendums