Chile Announces Plans to Shed Dictator Pinochet Constitution

The president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, announced Tuesday that in September a new, citizen-driven process will begin, to create a new constitution.

“In September ... we will begin a process through dialogues, debate, consultations and councils, that will lead to the new fundamental, fully democratic, and civic charter, which we all deserve,” she said on a broadcast on state radio and television.

The current constitution in Chile has been in place since it came into effect under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in 1981. 

Former radical student leader and current Congress member Camila Vallejo urged her fellow Chileans to take part in the process.

“It is the task of all who want profound transformations that the constitutional process set off by the #AC (Constitutional Assembly,” she posted to Twitter. 

Es tarea de todos quienes queremos transformaciones profundas que el proceso constituyente desencadene en la #AC.

— Camila Vallejo (@camila_vallejo) April 29, 2015

The constitutional reform, set to put anti-corruption methods in place, was one of Bachelet's key pledges during her last presidential campaign.

During her address Bachelet said that gradually the details of an ambitious crusade under her leadership would come to light, which include making political financing completely transparent with the elimination of anonymous and reserved donations.

The move will be important for the legacy of the Chilean president's government, which, she said “some will want to resist so that things stay the same.”

“The country has known irregularities, corruption and lack of ethics that affect policies and businesses. That is serious, because our democracy deteriorates and it creates abuses, privileges and inequality,” she said.