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Chile Votes For Its Future

Published October 26th, 2020 - 05:57 GMT

Thousands of people gathered in Santiago, the capital of Chile, on the anniversary of social protests in the country. 

In Santiago’s Plaza Italia, the focus of the massive and often violent protests last year which sparked the demand for a new charter, fireworks rose above huge crowds of jubilant people singing in unison late on Sunday as the word “rebirth” was beamed onto a tower above.

The people of Chile are voting in a referendum to approve a new Constitution following eight months of protest. Chileans have voted overwhelmingly in support of rewriting their constitution, which dates to the dictatorship of Gen Augusto Pinochet.

With nearly 90% of the vote counted, 78% of people voted "yes" in a referendum that was called after mass protests against inequality. "It is a triumph of the people and democracy," said President Sebastian Pinera.
 

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Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting the referendum results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting the referendum results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. The campaign to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution held a big lead in Sunday's referendum, partial results showed. The "Approve" vote to throw-out a constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities led by 77.26 percent to 22.74 percent, with 11 percent of the votes counted. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. The campaign to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution held a big lead in Sunday's referendum, partial results showed. The "Approve" vote to throw-out a constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities led by 77.26 percent to 22.74 percent, with 11 percent of the votes counted. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators are sprayed with water canons by riot police in a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government during the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. Martin BERNETTI /

Demonstrators are sprayed with water canons by riot police in a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government during the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. Martin BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Aerial view of Plaza Italia square showing people gathering as they wait for the official result on the constitutional referendum voting, in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. JAVIER TORRES / AFP

Aerial view of Plaza Italia square showing people gathering as they wait for the official result on the constitutional referendum voting, in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. JAVIER TORRES / AFP

Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting the referendum results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. The campaign to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution held a big lead in Sunday's referendum, partial results showed. The "Approve" vote to throw-out a constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities led by 77.26 percent to 22.74 percent, with 11 percent of the votes counted. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators are sprayed with water canons by riot police in a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government during the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. Martin BERNETTI /
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Aerial view of Plaza Italia square showing people gathering as they wait for the official result on the constitutional referendum voting, in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. JAVIER TORRES / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting the referendum results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting the referendum results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. The campaign to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution held a big lead in Sunday's referendum, partial results showed. The "Approve" vote to throw-out a constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities led by 77.26 percent to 22.74 percent, with 11 percent of the votes counted. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution gather waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. The campaign to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution held a big lead in Sunday's referendum, partial results showed. The "Approve" vote to throw-out a constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities led by 77.26 percent to 22.74 percent, with 11 percent of the votes counted. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators supporting the reform of the Chilean constitution celebrate while waiting for the referendum official results at Plaza Italia in Santiago on October 25, 2020. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" after Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their dictatorship-era charter. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators are sprayed with water canons by riot police in a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government during the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. Martin BERNETTI /
Demonstrators are sprayed with water canons by riot police in a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government during the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. Martin BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government on the constitutional referendum voting day at Plaza Italia square in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP
Aerial view of Plaza Italia square showing people gathering as they wait for the official result on the constitutional referendum voting, in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. JAVIER TORRES / AFP
Aerial view of Plaza Italia square showing people gathering as they wait for the official result on the constitutional referendum voting, in Santiago on October 25, 2020. A year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago in the biggest Chile's social uprising, Chileans vote Sunday on whether to change the country's dictatorship-era constitution seen as underpinning the nation's glaring inequalities. JAVIER TORRES / AFP

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