2023-12-18 01:47:00
A little over a year and a month ago, this same analysis space was titled: “Chile remains a moderate country”. On that occasion, an overwhelming majority pulverized a project for a new refoundation constitution written by the most left-wing sectors of the country.
Today, nearly thirteen million Chileans have voted again. This time by a project written mainly by the Republican party, which was installed on the extreme right of the entire existing political spectrum and led a conservative regression after that result.
And the Chileans, who remain moderate, responded loud and clear: neither does this text.
Today in Chile no one in the political class can celebrate. The traditional right cannot do it, given over to the most conservative sectors in a thoughtless manner, nor can the government and the left, which were forced to call to vote against and defend, indirectly, the validity of the Constitution of Pinochet of 1980, the one that they tried so hard to change.
A text that, by the way, has been indirectly validated twice in the two electoral processes with the largest vote in the history of Chile.
On the other side of the mountain range, boredom won. After four years since the “Social Outbreak”, The country has not made progress on any of the reported problems. The constitutional discussion took over the agenda, while the educational, health and – above all – public security crisis became increasingly palpable for millions of Chileans.
In these years, little progress was made on social matters in Congress and the Constitution was transformed into a kind of chimera. While, at the same time, citizens expressed again and again a preference for the policy of broad agreements that would solve the country’s emergencies.
The counting of votes from the constitutional plebiscite, in Santiago (Chile). Photo EFE
There was, in the middle, a moment of hope. This second process had a commission of experts, nominated by the parties, which operated as the first “Chamber” of this bicameral process. That initial text, known as “the experts’ draft” did achieve agreements. Even at the time, from President Gabriel Boric to the most possible standard-bearer of the traditional right in the next presidential election, Evelyn Matthei, they expressed their support for the agreed text.
However, the large conservative majority in the elected Constitutional Council disfigured that draft. Once again politics went to the trenches and many called for transforming this plebiscite into a kind of political bid over the central government. It is already clear that this message had little impact on average citizens.
People voted for the text, out of a rejection of these four years, out of fatigue or boredom. The voters voted with helplessness, distrust and uncertainty. This was a new emotional plebiscite, which serves as a thermometer of the country. Fate will know if this time the politicians will understand it.
The future for Chile is now unclear. Everyone has said that a constitutional process will not be promoted again, but it remains to be seen. It is genuine that citizens feel distrust if, after the country almost burned down that October and November 2019, little or nothing has changed in the agreed diagnosis: improve the living conditions of those who are disadvantaged due to lack of opportunities.
The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, voting on the day of the constitutional plebiscite. Photo EFE
There are two years left in the Boric government. Without a legislative majority and without a government program that generates social roots, the defeated political class will have an opportunity: speak to that moderate world, who wants agreements and has delivered two huge defeats to everyone without distinction. Otherwise, boredom, tiredness and discomfort will only increase.
This space cannot be concluded without mentioning that for posterity there will remain the historical farce of the leftist generation that burst into the streets and conquered power in less than a decade. A window of opportunity to install a country project like never before in its history. Of the original refoundation project, little and nothing remains. Today at the headquarters of the socialist party, the official leaders celebrated with champagne and flags that a constitution that they called “the General’s Constitution” will continue to govern in Chile.
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