CHILE: Latest developments in presidential race
There have been some important developments in the race for the presidency over the past month. The first round of the presidential election takes place on 21 November, with a run-off vote scheduled for 19 December. Before then, in April, there will be an election for the constit… Become a member to read the […]
CHILE: Presidential election outlook
The governing Chile Vamos (CV) coalition appears relatively well positioned ahead of the 2021 presidential race despite President Sebastian Pinera’s tribulations. The Center-Left lacks strong candidates, while the out-and-out Left is fragmented and in flux. The current popu… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Government fights rear-guard action on pensions
The political tussle over a second withdrawal from the pension system continues. A second withdrawal is likely to go ahead – with lower house approval possible in the early part of this week. However, recent government manuevers should go some way to preventing future withdrawa… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Testing defenses against rising populist pressures
The Senate’s constitutional commission could have the second initiative to allow people to dip into their retirement savings ready to go to a plenary Senate vote by the end of today, 18 November; the first initiative passed in July. This bill has already passed the lower house wi… Become a member to read the […]
CHILE: Governing from weakness
President Sebastian Pinera’s administration increasingly resembles a damage limitation exercise. This week, Pinera lost an Interior Minister, Victor Perez, who had only been in the job for 98 days. In parallel, a bill that would allow people to make a second withdrawal from the… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Key takeaways from constitutional referendum
A landslide in favor of a new constitution marks the beginning of an intense electoral cycle as well as the two-year constitutional process. The results do not necessarily undermine the mechanism to ensure consensus and moderation in the new constitution. A relatively high … Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: What lies beneath constitutional referendum positioning
The “yes” campaign remains on track for victory in next month’s referendum on a new constitution. Political maneuvering on the Right points to how established political fault lines are in flux. The constitutional campaign and vote will have reverberations on the race… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Covid-19 and the constitutional referendum
The official campaign period for the 25 October constitutional referendum gets underway from today, 26 August. The referendum, which was postponed from April due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is the result of a hastily-reached cross-party agreement last November amid the most serious… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Another crisis, another reshuffle
President Sebastian Pinera reshuffled his cabinet yesterday, 28 July. The widely expected reshuffle follows a heavy defeat for the government in recent votes to allow people to withdraw up to 10% of their savings from the private pension (AFP) system to support themselves through… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHILE: Political implications of pension withdrawal initiative
The government has suffered a heavy defeat by failing to block an opposition-led initiative that would allow people to dip into their retirement savings. While immediate-term governability can be restored by a likely cabinet reshuffle, President Sebastian Pinera is left perm… Become a member to read the rest of this article