Chileans have chosen to stick with the country’s existing constitution, adopted in 1980 under the regime of dictator General Augusto Pinochet, rather than approve a new document put forward by a council dominated by right-wing delegates.
The BBC reports that in a referendum on Sunday, the draft – which would have affected laws governing abortion access, the ability to strike and indigenous rights – was rejected by 56% of voters to 44%.
Voters similarly rejected a more left-wing proposal last year.
The BBC reports that efforts to replace Chile’s 1980 constitution began in 2019 following anti-government demonstrations.
Demonstrators called for measures to address inequality and the cost of living, as well as social and political reforms.
Then-President Sebastián Piñera agreed to launch a process to rewrite Chile’s constitution. However, the first draft, which proposed reforms to Chile’s senate as well as formal recognition of the country’s indigenous groups, was rejected by 62% of voters last September.
The version voted on in Sunday’s referendum was written by a new body of 51 elected representatives, 23 of whom were from the right-wing Republican Party.
It was criticised for failing to protect indigenous rights, possibly allowing restrictions to reproductive rights, and enshrining private sector participation in the provision of services such as health, education, and pensions.
President Gabriel Boric, who backed the first draft but remained neutral on the second, said ahead of the vote that it would be the last attempt at constitutional reform.
He said on Sunday that with the latest vote ‘the constitutional process is closed’.
Boric added that Chile had ‘other urgent matters’ to tackle.