Majority of Chileans remain undecided on new Constitution proposal

A recent survey by the Center for Public Studies (CEP) revealed that 53% of Chileans are still undecided about whether to vote for or against the proposed new Constitution in the upcoming plebiscite on December 17. The survey also indicated that 30% of citizens lean towards the ‘Against’ option, 8% towards the ‘For’ option, and 9% abstained from responding.

The majority of those who are still undecided identify with a center ideology, while 49% of those who reject the proposal declare themselves leftist, according to CEP. The survey was conducted on 1,478 people from 125 neighborhoods in the country between September 24 and November 2, with a sampling error of 2.8%.

In this plebiscite, more than 15 million Chileans will have the opportunity to vote on a controversial proposal for a new Constitution that was prepared by a body dominated by the extreme right and traditional right. The right argues that the new document is an improvement on the current Magna Carta, which has been in force since Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship (1973-1990), while leftists call it “dogmatic” and “partisan.”

The new proposal includes articles such as consecrating “the right to life of unborn,” immediate expulsion of irregular migrants, and tax exemptions for first homes that benefit higher-income individuals. This is Chile’s second constitutional process after its previous attempt in September ended with rejection by voters.

If this new proposal is rejected in December, Chile’s current constitution will remain in force. President Gabriel Boric has already announced that his government will not prompt a third attempt at drafting a new constitution if it fails again.