Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution Chile

Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution: A Game Changer for Chile

In October 2019, Chile erupted in protests, triggered by a hike in metro fares, but fueled by deep-seated grievances over social inequality, high living costs, and a broken political system. The protests led to a severe crackdown by the security forces, resulting in hundreds of injuries, deaths, and allegations of human rights abuses. The unrest showed no signs of abating, even after the government withdrew the fare hike, and promised to address some of the demands raised by the protesters.

In this volatile context, a historic agreement was reached in November 2019, between the government and a cross-party group of political leaders. The agreement, dubbed the “Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution,” aimed to address the root causes of the protests and pave the way for a more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable future for Chile.

The agreement establishes a two-stage process. The first stage involves a national plebiscite, scheduled for October 25, 2020, to decide whether Chileans want to have a new constitution and, if so, what kind of body should draft it. The second stage involves the actual drafting, discussion, and approval of the new constitution, which would replace the current one adopted during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

Some of the key features of the agreement include:

-A binding commitment to respect human rights and peaceful protest and to investigate and punish any violations.

-A recognition of the role of the indigenous peoples of Chile and a commitment to their participation in the constitutional process.

-An agreement to establish gender parity and diversity in the constitutional convention, which would have 155 members, half of whom would be women.

-An agreement to ensure that the constitution enshrines social rights such as health, education, housing, and pensions, as well as democratic principles such as transparency, accountability, and participation.

-An agreement to establish mechanisms for citizen participation and consultation, such as a constituent assembly or a mixed convention.

-An agreement to ensure that the new constitution is approved by a two-thirds majority of the convention members, to ensure broad consensus and legitimacy.

The agreement has been hailed as a game-changer for Chile and a model for democratic transition and constitutional reform in the region. It has also faced criticism and challenges, from different sectors of society, such as:

-Some protesters and social movements argue that the agreement does not go far enough in addressing their demands and that a new constitution is not enough, without deeper structural changes and reparations for past injustices.

-Some politicians and parties criticize the agreement for being too rushed and not allowing enough time for consultation and preparation, and for leaving too many details unresolved.

-Some sectors of the media and the business community raise concerns about the economic costs and uncertainties of the constitutional process, and the potential risks of radical or populist agendas.

Nonetheless, the agreement for social peace and a new constitution represents a unique opportunity for Chile to overcome its historical legacies of authoritarianism, inequality, and exclusion, and to build a more just, democratic, and prosperous society. The success of the process will depend on the ability of all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, compromise, and negotiation, and to uphold the values and principles of human dignity, social justice, and the rule of law. As Chile embarks on this challenging journey, the world will be watching and supporting its efforts to turn the page and write a new chapter in its history.