It is difficult to explain what happened yesterday or, the truth, what Chile has experienced in such a short time. How did we go from an entry plebiscite in which almost 80% voted in favor of eliminating the Constitution elaborated in dictatorship to this categorical result, rejecting what was proposed by the Convention, going through the democratic election of 155 people, the majority independent – as an example, the DC had only one representative? Although some people are upset by the use of the schizophrenic concept – I ask for forgiveness in advance – there is none that can better explain what we have experienced from 18/O onwards.
I believe that yesterday, rather than voting against the constitutional text, people expressed their annoyance and disagreement with the Convention, and in particular against some conventions. The Rojas Vade, the outbursts of some representatives of the People’s List – what hopes at the beginning and what a fiasco later – the stupidity of not inviting the former Presidents on the day of the final delivery, added to the political-communicational errors, such as changing the name of the Senate and trying to take four years from some parliamentarians elected for eight years – this started the Walker/Rincón duo – and countless other own goals.
But it is not only they who are responsible for this catastrophic outcome for the proposed text. Beyond the democratic expression expressed at the ballot box, there were powers that be that campaigned harshly and relentlessly against the Convention, even before a letter was written. They managed to install a reality that put the wind against the conventional ones, while making them a trap to which they fell easily. Fake news was a campaign weapon – like those that they installed early and that said that the national anthem would be changed or the pension funds would be taken away from us – but by far the best strategy was to use the “subcontractors” – as Daniel Matamala baptized them – faces in decline of the former Concertación that took advantage of their moment of fame, while the leadership of the right “anchored” behind them.
The right was intelligent, positioning a story and a script executed by other actors. He even managed to “hide” that he was part of the coordination and fringe with the Republican Party, one that has expressed, and ratified a few days ago, that he is NOT available to change a comma to the current Constitution and, eye, that it has fifteen deputies and a senator. Only a few weeks before the 4S, the parties of Chile Vamos presented a brief text with ten points in which they were willing to advance in case of winning the Rejection. With the exception of the “social and democratic State of law” – it seems to be a transversal consensus that we will no longer have a Subsidiary State – the other points constitute an ambiguous list, such as “more participation”, “right to individual security” or “more Decentralization”. From today, the right, the one that was hidden – even José Antonio Kast came out to arrogate the result last night – must go to the blackboard to specify how far they are willing to advance on those points, despite their long history of 30 years in which they always opposed changing the Constitution signed by Pinochet.
Undoubtedly, the fundamental factor of the second half, of the constitutional process that begins today, will be the role that President Gabriel Boric can play. Although some right-wing leaders pointed out that this was a defeat of the President – it is undoubtedly an important blow, considering that it was played for that option – I believe that this is a tremendous opportunity for him.
Boric must start his own anticipated “second half” – six months into his government – leading to a political process that will lead Chile to have a new Constitution. Last night Boric projected himself as a statesman, a good sign. He called for national unity, was self-critical, valued the role of Congress, democracy and the will expressed on September 4, said that we have a second chance and that he will begin today to talk with all the actors and sectors that want a new Constitution. And he added something important: that we will not start from scratch, that we will learn from mistakes. Because common sense tells us that this time there will be no “blank page”. There is already a regulation and a basic text to begin to bring positions closer together.
But Boric also made it clear last night that we will not only live around the Constitution, emphasizing the great concerns of Chileans – he mentioned security, La Araucanía, the housing deficit and inflation.n–, for which he said that it will require “adjusting our government teams”.
Undoubtedly, for this “second half” – of the constituent process and of the Government – a structural and profound change is indispensable, not only of faces and people with more experience, but also of the story, the priorities, the way of communicating and, of course, of the expansion of the government coalition.
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The content expressed in this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.
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