Chileans recently rejected a progressive constitution by a decisive margin despite voting to replace the Pinochet-era constitution in 2020. What explains this seemingly divergent positions?

Political and social leaders across the political spectrum have called for a new constitutional convention to be convened, pointing out that the text of the proposed constitution was rejected, not the desire to have a new constitution

The new draft constitution is said to be one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, and addresses the country’s stark social inequalities.

This Sunday, over 15 million Chileans will have the opportunity to replace the country’s constitution inherited from the era of dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet

The draft constitution enshrines a number of new rights and freedoms such as free higher education, universal access to healthcare, reproductive rights, pensions, indigenous and water rights.