⁍ In Santiago’s Plaza Italia, fireworks rose above a crowd of tens of thousands of jubilant people singing in unison as the word ‘rebirth’ was beamed onto a tower above.
⁍ Many have expressed hopes that a new text will temper an unabashedly capitalist ethos with guarantees of more equal rights to healthcare, pensions and education.
– Voters in Chile have overwhelmingly approved a plan to replace the country’s old constitution with a new one drafted by citizens, reports Reuters. The victory is a huge relief for President Sebastian Pinera, who had staked his political career on keeping the constitution in place after last year’s massive protests. The new charter will be put to a national convention in 2021 and voted on by a two-thirds majority in the lower house of Congress. “This triumph belongs to the people, it’s thanks to everyone’s efforts that we are at this moment of celebration,” said a 37-year-old man. “What makes me happiest is the participation of the youth, young people wanting to make changes.”
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-constitution/three-quarters-of-chilean-voters-want-new-constitution-partial-count-idUSKBN27B00N