Chileans debate their new Constitution
Aerial view of Santiago, June 12, 2021. In Chile, political power is concentrated almost solely in the Santiago region, where 40% of the population lives.
AFP - MARTIN BERNETTI
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In Chile, it is a highly symbolic week for the Constituent Assembly.
After eight months of work, the first articles of the new Constitution should be adopted this week - the debates begin this Tuesday in plenary session.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Santiago,
Justine Fontaine
It is a question of drafting the Constitution which would replace the current text, inherited from the dictatorship of General Pinochet.
This was one of the demands of the popular revolt at the end of 2019 against social inequalities.
The first articles that could be included in the new Constitution concern two very present demands, particularly since the historic "social explosion" of the end of 2019: the question of the decentralization of Chile and that of the rights of indigenous peoples.
First, as of Tuesday, elected officials will begin to debate the model of justice they want for their country.
And one of the most innovative proposals for Chile concerns the possible creation of special courts for members of indigenous peoples.
These courts would in certain cases allow defendants to be judged in accordance with their vision of the world, in other words their customs and their beliefs.
Then, from Wednesday, the Constituent Assembly will have to decide on the form of the Chilean state.
How to decentralize the country?
Should we move towards a regional state, with more political and financial autonomy for the regions outside the capital, as in Spain for example?
Here are in essence the questions to be answered by the elected representatives in the hemicycle.
A particularly awaited week, because it will make visible the concrete progress of the text, after months of often very technical work, but also of controversies and communication hiccups, which contributed to lowering the approval of the Constituent Assembly in the 'public opinion.
The Constituent Assembly has until early July to draft a new Constitution.
The text will then have to be approved by referendum, probably next September.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Chile