The Chilean Constituent Assembly has a new president

The Constituent Assembly has since its inception features of strong singularity due to its equal component and the representation of native peoples. In a few months it must present to society the fundamental text that must be approved through a new popular consultation, during the second semester of this year. The left, either through its traditional parties or its new aspects, including the one that has led to Gabriel Boric to the Chilean presidency, is predominant in the Assembly. Quinteros, who is a doctor in Public Health, came to the Convention on behalf of the social movements that grew with the outbreak of November 2019. It has become its main authority, to the surprise of many analysts who expected a more moderate figure. She will be seconded by Gaspar Domínguez, a 32-year-old doctor from the University of Chile.

Very happy for this new table led by @MEQChile, and @gdominguez_, the responsibility of directing and taking care of the convention rests on you today, I have my peace of mind when I see that the @convencioncl is in the best hands and with an institutional framework that works. Amulepe! ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/LqcfOdokJu

— Elisa Loncon – Mapuche Constituent (@ElisaLoncon) January 6, 2022

Expectations and fears

Articles of the Magna Carta must be approved with the two thirds of the members of the Constituent Assembly. Another peculiarity of this Assembly is that the right has a secondary role to the point that it lacks veto power. The possibility of a greater loss of prominence of the conservative space generates concern in the economic elite, fearful that the final text will have a radical and unviable imprint. They also doubt the will of the new authorities for consensus.

“These are times of change, they are times of dialogue, are times of encounter . I invite you to be part of this, part of the deliberation, part of the agreements, to co-build in together the two thirds we need to give the peoples of Chile what they have asked us so much, “Quinteros seemed to reply in his first message. “We are not used in the country to listen to political discussions, to dialogue, to reach consensus. For some people it is strange, but it is part of the pluralistic coexistence that we need in the country.”

A recent survey by the consulting firm Cadem shows that a 58% of Chileans trust the body in charge of drafting the text that will replace the Constitution forged during the last military dictatorship. With a slightly lower percentage, Boric won the presidency in the second round on December 19. The elected president needs the Constituent Assembly to come to fruition. An eventual rejection of the popular consultation would negatively impact your Government.