Chile and the importance of a constitution

The Ballot Box: Elections Around the World

Last week Chileans voted in the second stage of a process to rewrite the Pinochet-era constitution which has ensured significant parts of the dictators' antidemocratic and neoliberal agenda have remained in place and constrained governments ever since he left office. Last year, following a turbulent periods of protests and repressive government response, Chileans voted in a referendum to call a constitutional convention to write a new constitution, which was elected last last week. Voting saw historic lows for the classic centre-left and centre-right blocs that have governed Chile since the transition, and a wave of support for left-leaning lists. We dig into the origins of Chile's flawed constitution and what's behind these changes in voting patterns.

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