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Chilean President Sebastian Piñera announces at the presidential palace in Santiago on December 23, 2019 that a referendum on the constitution will take place in April 2020. AFP Photos / Aton Chile / Ramon Monroy

Sebastian Piñera, the Chilean president, kept his word and promulgated this Monday, December 23, the law allowing the organization of a referendum on a change of the Constitution inherited from the dictatorship of Pinochet. The referendum will take place on April 26, 2020.

A referendum will take place on April 26 . It was one of the main demands of the social movement that has been shaking Chile for more than two months. Chileans will have the opportunity for the first time in 30 years to vote on a change in the fundamental law and will have to answer two questions.

Joint Congress or Constituent Assembly

Do they want, yes or no, to replace the current Constitution, inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship . If so, by what type of body responsible for drafting the future Constitution? Chileans will have the choice between a “ Joint Congress ” or a “ Constituent Assembly ”.

The Mixed Congress, composed equally of elected citizens and sitting parliamentarians, is the option supported by the government coalition. Conversely, the Constituent Assembly, entirely composed of citizens specifically elected for the drafting of the new Constitution, is the option supported by the opposition and demanded by many demonstrators.

►Read also: Chile: the revision of the Constitution divides the political apparatuses

If the yes wins on April 26, an election of the Joint Congress or the Constituent Assembly will then take place in October 2020. The body will then have 9 months to prepare the text of the new Chilean Constitution.