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Every Sunday, the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, widely recognized for its conservative stance and broad readership, publishes the country’s top selling books. In the latest roundup, a draft of a new constitution, produced by LOM publishing, topped the non-fiction chart. The strong consumer interest behind this release has stirred political conversation and even tensions across the political spectrum. The publication highlighted the document as a milestone, while observers noted a rare surge in public engagement with constitutional issues. Paulo Slachevsky, director of LOM, told El Mostrador that sales near 70,000 copies reflect a real appetite to understand the proposed changes to Chile’s fundamental laws.
Such enthusiasm for reading is interpreted as a shift in public attitude toward a potential referendum. Until recently, many voters showed little interest in the content of the text they were asked to approve or reject. Before El Mercurio’s ranking drew attention, polls generally indicated a negative stance toward the new Constitution. The Ciudadano Advisory Panel reported a clear preference against the draft, though margins were modest. ACADEMIA polling and a predictive mathematical model used by political researchers suggested that a yes vote could gain momentum as the campaign continued.
Against this backdrop, there was a wave of purchases of LOM copies. Slachevsky noted that the ninth edition signaled many citizens wanted to understand the Constitution in depth. The government had distributed 900,000 copies, totaling 162 pages, free of charge, as part of an educational effort. Critics from the far-right Independent Democratic Union argued that the state was spending money to inform citizens about the text rather than relying on social media, where misinformation runs rampant. Some media figures, including prominent supporters of the rejection side, used the same pages to critique the government’s approach to civic education.
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Religious leaders urged the public to seek informed understanding before casting votes. They called for serious consideration this September and warned that social networks could spread misinformation about possible outcomes such as expropriations, the destruction of farms or symbols, indigenous legal reforms, and the deployment of security forces if the reform passes. An academic from Diego Portales University warned that Chile faces a troubling spread of fake news that fuels anxiety. Even rumors about a rewritten constitution began to circulate, complicating public perception and raising questions about authenticity. Reports from community members in Santiago described leaflets carrying official emblems that distorted the draft’s articles, heightening confusion.
Boric’s administration faced intense scrutiny as the referendum approached. The president acknowledged the possibility that the finalized constitution might lead to another constitutional process in the future. Critics have tied this to concerns about social inequalities, noting that a small percentage of Chileans hold a large share of the nation’s wealth. Proponents of sweeping reform argue that adjustments to the constitutional framework could create better conditions for addressing inequality and expanding rights across society.
At the same time, younger voters expressed support for the yes option. Former leaders called for unity and reform. A prominent figure highlighted that a new constitution could enshrine long-standing commitments to dignity, equality, and solidarity, and could help translate decades of aspirations into a concrete legal framework. The final phase of the campaign was expected to mirror past political moments, where social will and public discourse shape the path forward as much as the ballot itself.