Misinformation abounds as Chile prepares to vote on new constitution
GuardianNov 25, 2022
Chile Elections: Conservatives Win Majority to Draft New Constitution
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Image copyright: Amico Hoops
The Facts
Conservative Chilean parties won a majority of the vote in Sunday’s elections to determine the members of a 50-seat Constitutional Council tasked with drafting a new constitution. The elections represent a strong pushback against progressive Pres. Gabriel Boric, who took over last March.
The vote for a new constitution to replace that of Gen. Augusto Pinochet comes after 62% of Chileans voted against the left-wing proposal backed by Boric in September 2022. If it had been approved, Chile would’ve had one of the world’s most progressive constitutions.
The Spin
Right narrative
Chile has defeated a failed leftist government and chosen a new path for the nation. Boric’s party has brought inflation and crime to unprecedented levels, and Chileans don't trust his party to create a constitution that represents them. Last year Chileans voted overwhelmingly against the far-left socialist proposal, and this year they sent a clear message that they want a common-sense constitution that will restore Chile to its greatness.
Left narrative
Where did Chile go wrong? After the nation finally escaped the clutches of ruthless dictator Augusto Pinochet, it seemed like it was on the path to valuing human rights and equality. Just last year it elected one of Latin America’s youngest and most progressive leaders. Now it's returning to the far-right that it worked so hard to defeat. There are a lot of explanatory factors as to why this happened, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is a bad day for human rights and democracy in the Latin American nation.
