By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES – It was take-two for an attempt to replace the Pinochet era constitution, a demand that came out of the massive 2019 protests. A highly progressive first go was also rejected by voters back in late 2022. Now the entire process seems doomed as the population has other priorities.
Sunday’s vote was similar in percentages to the presidencial elections of 2021 that brought the former student leader Gabriel Boric to power. Boric himself had supported the progressive draft in 2022 but stayed out of the fray on the second draft. However, the different parties and civic organizations that supported his election spearheaded a NO vote on a constitution that would have given even more priority to big agriculture and mining interests over environmental concerns and the population