Chile’s Constitution Rewrite Underway After Chaotic Start

(Bloomberg) -- Chile’s process to draft a new constitution got underway on Sunday after its start was postponed due to clashes between the police and protesters in downtown Santiago.

The constitutional convention of 155 delegates set about electing a president hours later than planned as police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse crowds in the capital’s downtown. Some elected assembly-members refused to participate in the ceremony as long as police special forces remained near the building.

Drafting a new constitution was one of the key agreements reached after social unrest gripped the country in October 2019. Mostly left-wing candidates and independents were elected in May to draft the new constitution, with center and right wing parties suffering major defeats.

The convention will have nine months, extendable to 12 months, to draft the new constitution.

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