Weary Chileans Reject Second Proposed Constitution, Dealing Blow to Country's Political Class.

Chile has rejected a second proposal for a new constitution, prolonging uncertainty and highlighting the failure of the country's political system to address social discontent. With 99% of votes counted, 56% rejected the text while 44% supported it, meaning that the current constitution from the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship will remain in place. The outcome is seen as a disappointment for those who had hoped for a new constitution and reflects broad discontent with politics in Chile. President Gabriel Boric has stated that this vote closes the constitutional process for the rest of his term and called on political parties to focus on key legislation. The proposed text drew criticism for its divisiveness, with detractors arguing that it would have jeopardized abortion rights and entrenched the power of the private sector. Supporters believed it would have stimulated economic growth and addressed issues such as migration and crime. The rejection of the new constitution keeps the risks of social unrest alive, and some analysts anticipate another push for a new constitution in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Bloomberg.com is the property of Bloomberg, L.P. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)