With almost 62% of the votes "against" the proposal for a new Constitution, the majority of Chileans rejected the proposed text that would turn Chile into a "plurinational, intercultural, regional and ecological" state. The result maintains, for the time being, the current constitution, drafted in 1980 and reformed several times throughout the country´s democracy.
The option to approve the new text garnered only 38% of support and supported mainly by voters living abroad. The Chilean Electoral Service (SERVEL) stated that with more than 99% of the votes counted and 85% participation from the electorate, in the 16 regions of the country, the option to reject was supported by more than 50% of the votes.
Boric does not give up
President Gabriel Boric, a faithful supporter of constitutional change, has not given up his attempt to change the text and acknowledged in a national broadcast that he will work hand in hand with civil society and Congress to create a new "constituent itinerary":
In Chile, institutions work, democracy is more robust. The voice of the people must be heard. Chileans have demanded a new opportunity to meet and we must live up to this call. Therefore, I am committed to do my utmost to build together with Congress and civil society a new constituent itinerary. Society demands from our institutions that we work until we arrive at a proposal that interprets us all, that gives confidence.
President @GabrielBoric addresses the country following the results of the #ConstitutionalPlebiscite. https://t.co/BRiqMBJzD7
- Presidency of Chile (@Presidencia_cl) September 5, 2022
At a press conference, the president also hinted at new changes and reforms in his cabinet: "facing these important and urgent challenges will require prompt adjustments within our teams to face this new period with renewed vigor."
The Chilean opposition supports the rejection of the new text. José Antonio Kast, who in 2020 lost the second round to Boric, was one of the great promoters of the "rechazo." Kast commented that in his opinion "the process failed." He specifically addressed the head of state, pointing out his defeat:"President Boric, this defeat is also your defeat."
International reactions
Among the first international reactions was one from Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, who lamented the result on his Twitter account with a controversial message: "Pinochet has revived" and added "only if the democratic and social forces unite, will it be possible to leave behind a past that stains all of Latin America and open the democratic avenues."
Revived Pinochet. https://t.co/zixLipcXsU
- Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 4, 2022
This message did not go over well with some Chileans, many accusing the Colombian president of getting involved in the country's internal politics. The country's former Foreign Minister and former Minister of Culture, Roberto Ampuero, affirmed that Petro's message defies the democratic decision of Chileans and questioned what the Colombian president said, asking him to "respect Chile."
President Petro, of Colombia, offends the vast majority of Chileans by criticizing our sovereign decision to reject (with 62%) the draft of the new Political Constitution. Respect Chile, Pdte@petrogustavo! 🇨🇱🇨🇨🇨@CaracolRadio@gobiernocolombi pic.twitter.com/ysZ1BTVHGa
- Roberto Ampuero (@robertoampuero) September 5, 2022
Ampuero's reaction was not the only one to come out of Chile. Former Justice Minister during Michelle Bachelet's administration, Isidro Solis, also criticized Petro's tweet. "When an option wins with 60% normally a democrat understands that a people have spoken clearly." It is "a clumsiness unbecoming of a president," he said in an interview with Semana.
