After the escalation of violence during the general strike on November 12, President Sebastián Piñera made a plea to the Chilean people, calling for ‘three agreements’: calm, justice and a new Constitution. He also announced that those police officers suspended after the rioting would be returned to service, explaining that this was necessary to restore order. 

Sectors of the opposition as well as some members of the Chile Vamos coalition itself reacted to the President’s words, and drew attention to a lack of concrete proposals to address the country’s social crisis.

Widespread public demand for a new Constitution in Chile has led to heated debate between the Executive and opposition in recent days. While both agree on the need for a referendum on the issue, they disagree over how the voting options should be worded. 

Also, should Chile vote to change its constitution, Piñera is keen for the process to be overseen by a ‘Constituent Congress’, while the opposition would prefer this to be presided over by a Constituent Assembly. Access the statement signed by the opposition parties this week here.

It should be noted that Congress is already paving the way for a referendum as the Constitution Committee of the Chamber of Deputies this week approved a proposal vesting Congress with the power to call for a plebiscite on a new Constitution.

As for when this vote would be, if – and when – Congress calls for it to go ahead, the president will have a period of 90 days to deliver the referendum. The Committee has yet to issue details on the mechanisms to be used to draft the new constitution.