Convention that drafts new Chilean Constitution extends its work for three months

The Constitutional Convention, which drafts a new magna carta for Chile that seeks to replace the legacy by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), approved this Tuesday to extend the term of its work by three months.

According to its statutes, the body had nine months to draft the new Constitution, which expires on 4 April. The Convention has the one-time power to extend its work for a further three months.

“Today we are activating the constitutional extension that allows us to extend the term of operation of this Convention for three more months, until the completion of a year of work,” said its president, María Elisa Quinteros, when making a public account.

In this way, on July 5, he must submit to President Gabriel Boric a proposal for a constitutional text, which will be submitted to a plebiscite.

The Convention, the institutional outlet with which Chile channeled the violent social protests that broke out on October 18, 2019, was installed on July 4 of last year.

Initially with 155 members, it was the only one in the world of equal character and included 17 seats reserved for indigenous peoples.

Last week, however, the resignation of member Rodrigo Rojas was accepted, who in his campaign for election lied to claim to suffer from serious cancer.

In its 261 working days to date, the plenary session has succeeded in approving 135 norms contained in 84 articles, which will be incorporated into the draft of the New Constitution.

Among the most controversial norms, the one that enshrines the possibility of abortion, within the framework of the right to decide freely, autonomously and informed about one's own body, stands out.

The articles approved so far received an average of 122 votes, representing 80% of the members. In order for them to be included in the draft Constitution, they need two-thirds of the votes of the plenary.

“Did we manage to finish on July 5th?” , asked Quinteros, and then answered: “We are going to achieve it. And yes, we are going to approve it. That is my deepest conviction.”

pa/msa/