The Constituent Assembly of Chile presents its draft new Constitution

Maria Elisa Quinteros, the president of the Chilean Constituent Assembly presenting the draft new Constitution for the country in the ruins of Huanchaca in Antofagasta, May 16, 2022 © Cristian Rudolffi/Reuters

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The Constituent Assembly of Chile officially presented its draft new Constitution on Monday.

The ceremony took place in the port city of Antofagasta.

After more than ten months of work, the text consecrates a completely new "

" in this South American country, one of the most unequal on the continent.

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You have to devote some time to go through the 499 articles of the new fundamental law which would replace the one passed under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

since Saturday May 14 

.

It is the result of the major protests of 2019 against the liberal policies that have dominated the country for more than 40 years.

“

 ,” reads the first article.

Water, abortion, rights of indigenous peoples...

The text also provides for the right to a quality health and public education system, two key demands of the demonstrators.

For the first time, the Constitution also recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples.

Another novelty of the project: the guarantee for Chileans to have access to sufficient, healthy and affordable water and sanitation facilities.

Water distribution is currently privatized, a practice prohibited by the new Constitution. 

Finally, if the text does not mention the word "

", it provides that the State provides "

" in a country where this is only authorized in the event of danger to the life of the mother, of the child, or of rape.

Before the presentation of the final text to President Gabriel Boric, on July 5, 2022, a harmonization commission will refine the project, but without touching on the substance.

It will be put to a referendum on September 4.

But according to the latest polls, nearly 45% of Chileans would vote against the new Constitution, while only 27% would vote for it. 

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