Constitutional Convention (Chile)
The Constitutional Convention was the constituent body of the Republic of Chile in charge of drafting a new Political Constitution of the Republic after the approval of the national plebiscite held in October 2020. Its creation and regulation were carried out through Law No. 21,200, published on 24 December 2019, which amended the Political Constitution of the Republic to include the process of drafting a new constitution. The body met for the first time on 4 July 2021. Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said, "This Constitutional Convention must, within a period of 9 months, extendable for an additional 3 months, draft and approve a new constitution for Chile, which must be ratified by the citizens through a plebiscite." It ended its functions and declared itself dissolved on 4 July 2022.
Image: Palacio del ex Congreso Nacional de Chile 2020 03
Image: Palacio Pereira 2021
Hemicycle of the Chamber of Deputies of the former National Congress, place where the plenary sessions of the Convention were held.
View of the inaugural session of the Constitutional Convention. Jaime Bassa (Vice-President) and Elisa Loncón (President) are seen from behind leading the ceremony.
2020 Chilean constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Chile on 25 October 2020. The referendum asked the citizens whether they wanted a new constitution to be drafted, and if so, whether it should be written by a constitutional convention made up of directly elected citizens or by a mixed convention that was composed of currently serving members of Parliament and half of directly elected citizens. The "Approve" side won by a landslide, with 78% of voters agreeing to draft a new constitution. When it came to deciding how the new text should be written, 79% of voters opted for a "Constitutional Convention." The voter turnout was 51%.
Ballot boxes in Olivar.
Vote taking place in Macul.
Chilean abroad voting in Stockholm.