Chilean constitutional referendum, 1989

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A constitutional referendum was held in Chile on 30 June 1989. [1] The proposed changes to the constitution were approved by 91% of voters. [2]

Chile republic in South America

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a South American country occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas, and Easter Island in Oceania. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

Constitution of Chile Democratic constitution of Chile

The current Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile, approved by Chilean voters in a controversial plebiscite on September 11, 1980, under the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, partially effective March 11, 1981, fully effective 11 March 1990 and amended considerably on August 17, 1989 and on September 22, 2005 (legislatively), and also in 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, replaced the earlier constitution of 1925. It is Chile's eighth constitution.

Contents

Background

If approved, 54 constitutional reforms were to be implemented, among which the reform of the way that the Constitution itself could be reformed, the restriction of state of emergency dispositions, the affirmation of political pluralism, the strengthening of constitutional rights as well as of the democratic principle and participation to the political life.

State of emergency legal declaration or de facto acts by a government allowing assumption of extraordinary powers

A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to perform actions that it would normally not be permitted. A government can declare such state during a disaster, civil unrest, or armed conflict. Such declaration alerts citizens to change their normal behavior and orders government agencies to implement emergency plans. Justitium is its equivalent in Roman law—a concept in which the senate could put forward a final decree that was not subject to dispute.

Pluralism as a political philosophy is the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body, which permits the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions, and lifestyles. While not all political pluralists advocate for a pluralist democracy, this is most common as democracy is often viewed as the most fair and effective way to moderate between the discrete values.

Democracy system of government in which citizens vote directly in or elect representatives to form a governing body, sometimes called "rule of the majority"

Democracy is a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. In a direct democracy, the citizens as a whole form a governing body and vote directly on each issue. In a representative democracy the citizens elect representatives from among themselves. These representatives meet to form a governing body, such as a legislature. In a constitutional democracy the powers of the majority are exercised within the framework of a representative democracy, but the constitution limits the majority and protects the minority, usually through the enjoyment by all of certain individual rights, e.g. freedom of speech, or freedom of association. "Rule of the majority" is sometimes referred to as democracy. Democracy is a system of processing conflicts in which outcomes depend on what participants do, but no single force controls what occurs and its outcomes.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For6,069,44091.25
Against581,6158.74
Invalid/blank votes431,024
Total7,082,079100
Registered voters/turnout7,556,61393.73
Source: Chilean Electoral Service.

By region

RegionForAgainst
Votes%Votes%
I Tarapacá 147,66092.6711,6817.33
II Antofagasta 179,54091.8815,7808.12
III Atacama 90,12389.4110,67010.59
IV Coquimbo 201,92588.4926,26911.51
V Valparaíso 666,41292.5253,9077.48
VI O'Higgins 321,78090.3334,4569.67
VII Maule 382,57789.1246,72010.88
VIII Biobío 774,11189.3292,56410.68
IX Araucanía 322,12085.2155,88914.79
X Los Lagos 404,11088.4652,71311.54
XI Aysén 32,47389.69373310.31
XII Magallanes 71,80592.0362227.97
RM Metropolitana 2,474,80493.54170,9136.46
Total6,069,44091.25581,6158.74

Aftermath

Following the approval of the constitutional amendments, general elections were held in December. [1] Patricio Aylwin was elected President with 55% of the vote, [3] whilst the Concert of Parties for Democracy won a majority of elected seats in both chambers of the National Congress.

Patricio Aylwin Chilean politician and former President

Patricio Aylwin Azócar was a Chilean politician from the Christian Democratic Party, lawyer, author, professor and former senator. He was the first president of Chile after dictator Augusto Pinochet, and his election marked the Chilean transition to democracy in 1990. Despite resistance from elements of the Chilean military and government after his election, Patricio Aylwin was staunch in his support for the Chilean National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation which exposed the Chilean government's brutalities.

National Congress of Chile legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Chile

The National Congress of Chile is the legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Chile.

Pinochet left office on 11 March 1990, transferring power to the new democratically elected president.

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References

  1. 1 2 Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN   978-0-19-928358-3
  2. Nohlen, p268
  3. Nohlen, p288