In a referendum held yesterday, 56 percent of the Chilean voters defeated a draft centre-right constitution.
Last year, the voters defeated a leftist constitution, which was drafted by the constitutional assembly which was dominated by social activists and idealists.
The Chileans decided in a referendum held in 2019 to go in for a new constitution to replace the existing constitution imposed by the military dictatorship of Pinochet. Although this has been amended many times, still it perpetuates inequality and social injustice. The students and masses had risen in violent protests in 2019 seeking reforms in education, health care and pensions. It was because of these protests that it was decided to change the current constitution.
Both sides have now realized that they cannot impose their agenda on the other. So there is need for compromise and mutual give and take.
The voters have also learnt that neither Left nor the Right has the exclusive solutions. So they have exercised smart choice in the presidential elections of the last two decades. They have voted the Left and the Right to power alternately in each of the last five elections since 2006.
The current President Gabriel Boric, a Leftist, is the youngest to be elected at the age of 35. He was one of the student union leaders who lead the protests for equality and justice. He is trying his best to advance his leftist agenda but has only limited success due to the strong opposition of the conservative forces. He has also realized that he needs to be more pragmatic and realistic.
The Chilean constitutional experiment is a lesson for many other democracies of the world which are also struggling to balance the demands and interests of the haves and have-nots.
Last year, the voters defeated a leftist constitution, which was drafted by the constitutional assembly which was dominated by social activists and idealists.
The Chileans decided in a referendum held in 2019 to go in for a new constitution to replace the existing constitution imposed by the military dictatorship of Pinochet. Although this has been amended many times, still it perpetuates inequality and social injustice. The students and masses had risen in violent protests in 2019 seeking reforms in education, health care and pensions. It was because of these protests that it was decided to change the current constitution.
Both sides have now realized that they cannot impose their agenda on the other. So there is need for compromise and mutual give and take.
The voters have also learnt that neither Left nor the Right has the exclusive solutions. So they have exercised smart choice in the presidential elections of the last two decades. They have voted the Left and the Right to power alternately in each of the last five elections since 2006.
The current President Gabriel Boric, a Leftist, is the youngest to be elected at the age of 35. He was one of the student union leaders who lead the protests for equality and justice. He is trying his best to advance his leftist agenda but has only limited success due to the strong opposition of the conservative forces. He has also realized that he needs to be more pragmatic and realistic.
The Chilean constitutional experiment is a lesson for many other democracies of the world which are also struggling to balance the demands and interests of the haves and have-nots.
