SANTIAGO (Bywire News) - On Sunday, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced that on 4 July, an assembly will be held to draft a new constitution for Chile. The new draft will replace that of the old dictator Augusto Pinochet.
The plan to rewrite the constitution came as a result of a larger political consensus which was agreed upon following the violent social protests that took place towards the end of 2019. The protests sparked up over inequality in a nation famous for its long-running support for the free market.
Pinera said, "This convention undoubtedly represents a great opportunity to achieve a new constitution that will be recognized and respected by all Chileans under a framework of unity and stability toward the future for our democracy."
The convention will be made up of 155 delegates who were elected back in May, they will have a total of a year to put forward a draft, which will then be put forward for a popular vote in a referendum.
(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Hugh Bronstein and Klaudia Fior; Editing by Daniel Wallis)