The holidays in Chile are officially over, and with the start of March, the first political difficulties arose. Six months after society rejected an ambitious constitutional proposal at the ballot box, drafting another Magna Carta, this time on the principle of a balance of right and left that will force intense negotiations. A Expert Commission It was established by parties with parliamentary representation to leave behind the institutional matrix inherited from the last military dictatorship (1973-90).
The social epidemic in October 2019 had opened the door to writing a new basic text. The choice of traditionalists, carried out in the heat of the protests, was quite favorable for the left and the centre-left. The assembly debated for more than a year, but the result of its work did not materialize. The right, which lacked veto power in the said Convention, eventually mixed social networks and traditional media together, won a significant part of the public and stopped this basic text from coming into force in public consultation. Defeat was one Setback for President Gabriel Boric. On March 11, he will celebrate one year of rule. Its popularity is low: the wounds of this electoral misstep are still severe. In this context, the task of the Commission, which will consist of 24 people, 12 men and 12 women, begins. Experts have a deadline. three months to prepare a proposal this will serve as the basis for discussion and later elaboration of the new Magna Carta. Its draft will be submitted to the Constitutional Council.
The group has a weight of lawyers and is led by lawyers. Veronica UndurragaFrom the Democracy Party (PPD, social democrat), which is part of the current coalition supporting Boric. “As chairman of this Commission of Experts, I ask that my colleagues and colleagues be respected, especially every citizen of this country.” The president spoke tonight. He said the commission’s first message was “promising because of the humility and awareness of MPs.” great opportunity we have as a country“.
Compromise
need maintain the balance of forces The decision to grant the right to the vice chairmanship of the commission, which was in conflict between the parties, became clear. Close to the constitutionalist Sebastian Soto sebastian pinera and, in a way, the custodian of the former president’s commitment to promoting the new Magna Carta.
Both the government and a section of the right believe that Chile should not enter a new phase of polarization like the one that marked the referendum. At the establishment of the Commission, there is also a negative environment in a part of society. A survey by consulting firm Pulso Ciudadano reveals that 57.1% distrust the starting phase. “I know that many do not feel called upon or skeptical “It’s not entirely up to me, Sebastián, or the goodwill of this group that I’m totally sure exists, that we’re able to re-enchant them through this process,” Undurraga said. Our society – he added – is deep, and it will take much longer than this process to build trust”.
Some previous agreements
In principle, the parties agreed on some axes of the project: The state should continue to be unitary and federalist alternatives should be forgotten. The Chilean nation, on the other hand,indivisible“, a clear message that the autonomous aspirations of the original peoples stipulated in the collapsed Constitution are rejected by voting. The commission will not work alone. A technical committee of 14 lawyers will act as a counterweight and will have the opportunity to arbitrate on thorny issues, according to the portal ‘El Mostrador’, “referees” must act “when requested by members of the Expert Commission”.
The commission should finish its work by 7 June. Then, the 50 members of the Council, who will determine the feasibility of the initiative with the advice of 24 experts and 14 lawyers who will form the Admissibility Technical Committee, will assume their duties. After passing the filter of this example, the text is Referendum on 17 December.
“We will be wrong, we will be angry, because we have very strong beliefs, personalities and characters and very deep beliefs and different perspectives on what is best for Chile, but be sure that our dedication to your well-being unites us, be patient with us, forgive our mistakes, accompany us and let us help,” said Undurraga, expressing the common desire of Boric and the moderate right: “Let’s build together without leaving anyone out, Moreover, I must seek out the margins to finally have a Constitution that will give us peace of mind and make us feel that we are part of a common project.”