News of constitution

Mix of hope, scepticism among Mapuche as Chile rewrites constitution

12-10-2021 14:57 Chile's Constitutional Convention had already begun to draft a new constitution, but Mapuche leaders doubt that it will resolve the community's historic demands for land and self-determination.

ENVIRONMENT

The battle for Brazil's indigenous land hots up

13-07-2021 14:57 Brazil's indigenous peoples are bracing for a legal battle with President Jair's Bolsonaro's government over controversial legislation.

NEW ERA IN CHILE

Piñera: Chile to begin writing its new constitution on July 4, says

21-06-2021 11:36 Chile's existing constitution dates from 1980, enacted at the height of Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 rule. Convention tasked with rewriting it will begin work on July 4.

KEY VOTE IN CHILE

Chileans opt for 'outsiders' to draft post-Pinochet constitution

17-05-2021 10:04 Chile votes for members of a new 155-member body to draft new constitution. President Sebastián Piñera says outcome of election shows his government and political parties are not "attuned to the demands and aspirations of citizens."

EDITORIAL

Problems in perspective

15-05-2021 11:28 President Alberto Fernández has sought a back door but he flouts one of the most elementary principles of jurisprudence – an ordinary law cannot override the Constitution.

Chilean Politics

New constitution, new dawn for Chile?

13-05-2021 16:30 Over two days on Saturday and Sunday, Chileans will elect a body of 155 constitution-writers who will replace the country's dictatorship-era constitution.

EDITORIAL

Courting deadlock

08-05-2021 00:28 The whole idea of the separation of powers is to achieve a constructive division of labour, not a collision course in which the component forces cancel each out.

CHILEAN POLITICS

Chile president proposes delaying election on new constitution

29-03-2021 19:28 Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on Sunday proposed delaying elections that will choose a commission to rewrite the country's dictatorship-era constitution, due to a surge in Covid-19 infections.

LANDSLIDE IN REFERENDUM

Chile abolishes constitution in groundbreaking vote for more inclusive democracy

31-10-2020 10:18 Events in Chile show us what frustrated people in democracies can achieve when they rise up.

LATIN AMERICA: LANDSLIDE IN REFERENDUM

Chile embarks upon a new path after landslide vote

31-10-2020 10:14 Chileans are eager for change, but a long road lies ahead in the search for a new constitution.

Referendum on constitution

Chileans look to future after referendum result

26-10-2020 17:43 Focus shifts to Chile's next chapter, as the country begins the tricky task of forging a new constitution.

BLOOMBERG

Chile investors brace for debate over new constitution

26-10-2020 17:10 Chileans voted overwhelmingly to change their constitution Sunday, triggering a wave of celebrations across the country and ushering in as much as two years of debate over the new charter. Here's what analysts had to say about what comes next.

Constitutional referendum

'Now there are real changes coming' – Chileans hail landmark vote

26-10-2020 08:10 Amid a year of Covid-19 contagion and social turmoil, Chileans vote for a new dawn.

Chile votes

Chileans overwhelmingly vote to scrap Pinochet-era constitution

25-10-2020 22:42 Chile voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to scrap its Pinochet-era constitution and draft a new one. With more than half the votes counted, 77.9% backed a fresh charter, a key demand by protesters that took to the streets last year in huge numbers.

Constitutional referendum

Sniffing the winds of change in Chile referendum

25-10-2020 14:50 A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest march of Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era Constitution.

Constitutional referendum

Chileans vote on whether to rewrite dictatorship-era charter

25-10-2020 11:08 Chileans will decide on Sunday whether or not to replace the constitution that dates back to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, and secondly, if the current Congress or other citizens should write the new text.

Protests in Chile

Riots escalate in Chile as crunch referendum draws closer

20-10-2020 08:48 President Sebastián Piñera condemned burning of two churches and other violence that marred anti-government demonstrations, as Chile prepares to hold a landmark constitutional referendum.

PROTESTS IN CHILE

Chile's wounded look to referendum, a year on from start of protests

14-10-2020 23:37 A year after the start of Chile's tumultuous social protests and as the country prepares for a landmark referendum, several protesters who suffered eye injuries believe their loss will not be in vain.

Global pandemic

Millions in Chile capital emerge from lockdown

28-09-2020 19:17 Chile on Monday lifted strict coronavirus lockdown measures for millions of people in the capital Santiago, a month ahead of a key referendum to amend the dictatorship-era constitution.

Russian president

Putin puts on display of military might ahead of key vote

24-06-2020 15:14 Vladimir Putin put Russia’s military strength on display Wednesday in a parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany, braving the coronavirus pandemic ahead of a referendum that may allow him to rule until 2036.

Democracy in Crisis

Protests in Chile hit LatAm's biggest music festival

24-02-2020 09:48 Protesters, using rocks and molotov cocktails, engaged in clashes with the police during the Viña del Mar Music Festival in a demonstration against Chilean President Sebastián Piñera.

Democracy in Crisis

Peru's Fujimori hospitalized for neurological and lung issues

04-02-2020 14:19 His last public statement came five days ago, when his daughter, Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for corruption charges.

Brazilian Taxes

Brazil businesses hope for simpler tax system in 2020

28-01-2020 12:15 In Brazil, where an average of 31 tax rules are introduced or amended every day, small and medium sized businesses struggle to keep up.

Peru Elections

No party emerging as clear winner in Peru congress elections

27-01-2020 11:38 Peruvians vote to elect 130 new members of congress that will legislate for only a year, after President Vizacarra dissolved its predecessor in September 2019.

Court ruling

Peru court backs president's decision to dissolve Congress

15-01-2020 12:23 Nation's Constitutional Court backs President Vizcarra’s controversial 2019 decision to dissolve the nation’s legislature.

NEW PM IN HAVANA

Cuba names tourism minister as first prime minister since 1976

22-12-2019 17:04 Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel names Manuel Marrero Cruz as the country's first prime minister since 1976.

Protests in Chile

Chile's Piñera acknowledges excess police force used in protests

19-11-2019 09:58 President admits excessive force used in clamping down on demonstrators, and promises “no impunity” for anyone who commits acts of violence.