Voters in Chile have overwhelmingly rejected a new constitution which was due to replace the one drawn up under Gen Augusto Pinochet’s military rule.
In a referendum, almost 62% voted against the progressive draft.
The margin of the defeat is much larger than opinion polls had suggested.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, who had backed the new constitution, said he would work with Congress and civil society to come up with a “new constitutional process”.
“We have to listen to the voice of the people” who, he said, had clearly not been satisfied with the proposal put forward by the constitutional convention.
He said he would continue working to reach a proposal that would “fill us with confidence and unite us all”.
The process to replace Chile’s military rule era constitution started three years ago after mass protests rocked the nation, which is normally seen as a haven of stability in the region.
Almost 80% of Chileans voted in favour of replacing the old constitution in a referendum in October 2020.
But the new document, drafted by a constitutional convention whose members had been chosen by voters, proved too radical for many.
Credit: bbc.com
