SANTIAGO, Chile- in which citizens will decide whether to approve or reject the draft Constitution drawn up by a legislative commission for one year. This has put the eyes of the world on this South American country, since the change can transform its economic model forever.
The United States, despite the distance, has not remained indifferent to the possibility of Chile changing its Magna Carta and thus leaving behind the last legacy of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).
It is not for less. The South American country is the largest producer of lithium and copper in the world, two minerals that are and will be key to the energy transition and the manufacture of electronic supplies.
These are some of the American voices that have spoken out about Chile’s draft new constitution.
The
Washington Post
Calls to “rewrite” the draft Constitution
The Washington Post newspaper calls for a rewrite of the draft constitution presented by the Constitutional Convention. The text indicates that the “initial optimism” about the proposal has collapsed.
“The initial public optimism has faded amid concerns about the competence and balance of the constituent body, of which 70% of its members come from the political left,” indicates the editorial body of the American newspaper.
The newspaper points out that in addition to economic issues, this Sunday’s election is important for the world since the democratic fluctuations in the country —from the coup d’état of September 11, 1973 to the democratic agreement of 1990— have been related “for a long time with the fate of democracy worldwide.”
It makes many Chileans fear a fragmentation of the country, in addition to the fact that investors may hesitate to take their resources to Chile in the midst of uncertainty about the mining legislation that the new text will bring.
Bernie Sanders supports a new constitution
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday that he is proud to support Chile’s new draft constitution.
“On Sunday the Chilean people can vote for a new constitution, replacing the anti-democratic one written by the dictator (Augusto) Pinochet with a new one with guarantees for the rights to health, housing, education and a habitable planet. I am proud to support this effort,” the leftist politician wrote.
The University of Chicago approves the project
A group of professors, students and alumni from the University of Chicago addressed a letter to the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, to express their support for the new draft constitution.
“We, the undersigned students and alumni of the University of Chicago, celebrate the new Constitution of Chile that replaces the previous one of dictator Augusto Pinochet and corrects the shameful legacy of the ‘Chicago Boys’ who participated in his military government,” the letter indicates. .
The signatories said that they hope that the plebiscite that is being held this Sunday will be the beginning of a new relationship between the educational institution and Chile, where communication, collaboration and respect are the fundamental principles.
“We are inspired by the peaceful and democratic process that generated this new constitution of Chile and its vision of social, economic and ecological justice that contrasts with the free market fundamentalism of the ‘Chicago Boys,'” the letter states.
