- Title: Chile's Pinera inks law for vote on new constitution
- Date: 23rd December 2019
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (FILE - NOVEMBER 01, 2019) (REUTERS) PROTESTER WAVING CHILEAN FLAG ATOP LAMPPOST VARIOUS, TOP VIEWS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED IN PLAZA ITALIA SANTIAGO, CHILE (FILE - NOVEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE
- Embargoed: 6th January 2020 20:30
- Keywords: Chile Chilean President Sebastian Pinera Santiago new constitution plebiscite protests referendum
- Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- City: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002BB767UV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Monday (December 23) signed off on a referendum to be held on a new constitution, which he vowed would generate a "solid, compassionate and legitimate framework" that would help reunify the country after nine weeks of intense protest over inequality and elitism.
Chileans will on Sunday April 26 decide whether they want a new constitution and if they do, whether the body that draws up the new document should be a popularly elected assembly or one mixed with current lawmakers.
The country's current constitution dates back to General Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 military dictatorship and, critics say, fails to guarantee proper healthcare, education and citizen participation in government.
The scrapping of the old constitution emerged as one of the main demands of protesters who have mobilized across the country over the two months.
A poll by Cadem last month suggested that 82% of Chileans believe the country needs a new constitution and 60% want it drawn up by a popularly elected assembly, compared with 35% who want a mix with politicians.
The president said he hoped the new constitution "should serve to leave behind the violence and divisions that we have seen resurface with pain and sadness during these days".
On Friday a demonstration brought chaotic scenes in Santiago's central Plaza Italia rallying point, where an estimated 1,500 demonstrators clashed with as many as 1,000 police officers, resulting in a 20-year-old protester being run over by a police armored vehicle.
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