Fabian Cambero

SANTIAGO (Reuters – Chile’s constituent assembly has begun debating motions for a new Constitution. It will replace the market-focused Constitution dating back to General Augusto Piochet. A text which could reshape Chile, the most important copper-producing nation in the world.

Some of the most controversial motions that the assembly will debate and vote in more than 20 plenary sessions include the creation of a Congress one-chamber, nationalizing mining and protecting indigenous territories.

Maria Elisa Quinteros of the constituent assembly said, “In the period we are going see what really going to stay in the proposed Constitution.” She also noted that September’s nationwide referendum was planned.

Gabriel Boric (a former student leader and leftist) will be taking office in March as the new Constitution. This could represent Andean’s biggest political or social change since 1990, when democracy was restored.

Investors and miners are jittery about the new Constitution. This poses a threat to country’s market-oriented economy model. It dates back to Pinochet’s brutal military rule.

Water and property rights, independence from central banks, labor practices, and water are some of the topics on the list. Others include feminist education, animal rights and legalization of marijuana.

These proposals will be discussed over the next months. They will require approval from two-thirds (or 103) of the delegates. After they are approved, there will be a series of amendments before the final vote. They would be returned to the commission for revision or rejection.

Conservatives are concerned about the potential for drastic changes in the country. Quinteros tried to calm fears by saying that there was a lot of misinformation and the motions were still early.

However, these fears are causing some support to wane. A Cadem survey showed that 47% of those who intend to vote for the Constitution have dropped from 56% to 47%.

Last year’s constitutional assembly was dominated last year by left-leaning independent representatives. Some are also rooted in the 2019 protest movement, which broke out in response to inequality in one the most wealthy countries in the region.

Kenneth Bunker from Tresquintos was the director of consulting Tresquintos. He said it was an important time for concerns to be raised in order to keep “wacky” actions moving forward, and undermine trust. Bunker believed that the new constitution would pass eventually, even though Boric’s government would face challenges.

His statement was that the “government of Gabriel Boric” will be faced with a problem balancing the country’s current political and economic situations.