1980 Chilean constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Chile on 11 September 1980.^[1] The proposed new constitution would replace the 1925 constitution, and was approved by over two-thirds of voters.^[2]

The referendum was controversial, as Chile was then being ruled by a military dictatorship, and it ensured that Augusto Pinochet would remain in power with a rule by decree until 1988, after which he was peacefully removed from power following a popular referendum. Further reforms, beginning in 1989 and most recently in 2005, have attempted to make the constitution more democratic.^{[citation needed]}

A referendum held in 2020 after waves of popular protests approved the drafting of a new constitution. In September 2022, the proposed left-wing document was rejected, 62% to 38%.^[3]^[4] Following a second process, in December 2023, a propsed right-wing replacement was rejected, 55.8% to 44.2%.^[5] These outcomes effectively guaranteed the 1980 charter would remain in effect.^[6]

^ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
^ Nohlen, p268
^ Schmidt, Samantha (5 September 2022). "Chilean voters decisively reject leftist constitution". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
^ "Plebiscito: Chile rechaza propuesta de nueva Constitución con histórica participación de más de 12 millones de personas". La Tercera. 4 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
^ "Chilean voters reject conservative constitution, after defeating leftist charter last year". AP News. 2023-12-17. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
^ "Chileans reject conservative constitution to replace dictatorship-era text". Reuters. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

[N1-1] Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3

[N2-2] Nohlen, p268

[3] Schmidt, Samantha (5 September 2022). "Chilean voters decisively reject leftist constitution". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-05.

[4] "Plebiscito: Chile rechaza propuesta de nueva Constitución con histórica participación de más de 12 millones de personas". La Tercera. 4 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.

[5] "Chilean voters reject conservative constitution, after defeating leftist charter last year". AP News. 2023-12-17. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

[6] "Chileans reject conservative constitution to replace dictatorship-era text". Reuters. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

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