Episode 106: Chile's Momentous Vote for A New Constitution

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Paige: You are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I’m Paige Sutherland.

Ian: And I'm Ian Kennedy.  

Paige: And today, we're going to talk about a very historic and important vote that's coming up in Chile about whether to have a new constitution. Besides the new vote that's coming up, there are also the protests that happened last year. That anniversary just happened and so we're also going to talk about our experience with that last year and what's going on right now with those protests. So again, listeners if you get lost, check out that audio guide and transcript online. Okay, Ian. So, you are still in Santiago—you're in Chile—what's going on with these protests and the upcoming vote?

Ian: Yes, so we're getting close to a year anniversary of when the social uprising here in Chile started last year. That happened around October 18th, it’s really when things officially kicked off when we saw the protests happen with the burning of the Enel building, the destruction to the subways and really kicked off this social protest that we saw go all the way up until, basically, until COVID became such a big deal. So recently, because we're coming up on a year, there are more protests happening. Something pretty serious that happened, a policeman shoved a kid over a bridge into the Rio Mapacho off the bridge in Pio Nono, so this has caused a lot of shockwaves going through the news. And, again, just this kind of us versus them mentality of the protesters against the police. I think this is something that we saw coming, and something that we could have predicted coming, due to the dates and because we have this really important vote coming up on October 25th to, as you mentioned before, decide whether or not the new constitution is going to be drafted. And this is important for a lot of different reasons, which we can get into. The main idea is that the constitution, it still remains from 1980 whenever the country was still in the Pinochet dictatorship. We just see the way that there are two Chiles now—there's the really, really rich and then there's the poor. And we see that gap widening, and so this is becoming a question of, do we change the constitution, which is the “Apruebo” movement or the “Rechazo” movement, which would vote against the idea of changing the constitution. So, we have a lot going on here.

Paige: I can imagine. I mean, when I was there, I left at the end of March and, like you said, there were still protests going on. And I think I'll never forget October 18th of last year. It was just such an experience that I've never had before of like, no one really knew what was going on when it hit. The metro was down, which the metro is never down. We just had people swarming into the streets, confused at what was happening, helicopters in the air, fires, the military taking to the street. It's definitely a memory for the books. I can imagine you being in Santiago that you probably are a little apprehensive about the 18th. I mean, I bet there's going to be a huge protest that day.

Ian: Yeah, that's a really good question. I think we're going to see a lot more of these protests happening up until the date and, like you mentioned, on the date, especially on October 18th, we're probably going to see something big. So, I hope everybody stays safe. Of course, I’m one-hundred percent for protesting, but just be really careful because we’re probably going to see a lot of violence and destruction, unfortunately. But, you know, this movement is obviously really important to the Chilean people. They've been through a lot in the last fifty years, especially. So, I think this will say a lot about the direction in which people want to take the country and I hope that the people get what they want and can improve their lives.

Paige: And I have to ask, I mean, you're there in Santiago. Are people wearing masks in the protests? Are the police officers wearing masks? Are there a good amount of people or are people kind of wary to protest, given COVID?

Ian: I think I see protesters wearing masks—some wearing masks, some not wearing masks. The police, it's hard to tell because they're in their full military, militia-style gear which is ridiculous but, anyway, we won't get into that. And so, I imagine they're probably wearing masks too. Another reason why we have to be wary about these protests is people have been inside for so long, and they've been cooped up—they have all this energy, these emotions, thinking about this, and how important it is for the future. Of course, people want to go out to the streets and express themselves and in a lot of cases people explode with their emotions and that turns into violence, turns into destruction, and I think we've seen this in the US, as well, with the racial protests. We saw a lot of violence and destruction, I think, in part because of those repressed feelings or those repressed emotions of being stuck inside during a pandemic, which alone is very stressful in itself. And so, I think people are just kind of reaching a boiling point, and we're seeing that manifest itself in these kinds of protests.

Paige: Definitely. And it's just so difficult that you have this historic uprising and then you have this historic global pandemic that really, I think for a lot of the activists in the country and for the protesters, that really kind of pumped the brakes on this momentum. I mean, they were building it for months and I felt like it kept growing and growing and then COVID’s lockdowns putting everyone inside. Do you feel like people who really want a new constitution are worried that it's been back burned because of this pandemic? That maybe people aren't as fiery as they were pre-COVID?

Ian: I think people probably wish that COVID hadn't come along to, like you said, kind of pump the brakes on everything because there was such a strong momentum going. And the vote was originally supposed to happen, I think, back in April. Obviously, due to COVID hitting here in Chile especially hard, I think, the months of April, May, June—it was obvious that it was going to have to get moved. And so, people were obviously disappointed about that happening. Of course, there's nothing you can do about that, but I think the people who really want the change, they're going to do what it takes to have to get this to pass. So, I think it's more inconvenient and really not as safe anymore, but I think those people are still going to go express their views to make sure that this important change happens.

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Paige: I was reading an article this morning about how support was around seventy-percent, and now with COVID and everything, it's like more around sixty (percent). So, it seems like it is dwindling but still, there is a majority support for a new constitution. I think what throws a wrench in it, and for all countries that are doing any elections is with COVID, is it safe to go out and vote? What are the safety measures that they're going to do? I read an article that they're going to have more polling stations, so less crowds. So, they're going to have people spread out. Unlike in the US where most people are going to mail in their ballot, you have to go to the poll in Chile and go on this constitutional change. I think that will be tricky of what is the voter turnout going to be? Because there are some families, I bet in Chile that don't want to leave their house because they don't think it's safe, but then they can't vote.

Ian: Exactly. It's a real catch-22, in that sense. If you don't have another option, you're putting yourself at risk to exercise your right to vote, but you also don't want to get your family sick, you don't want to get yourself sick either. So, I hope with COVID, that people can still vote as safely as possible and can still express their vote. It would be a real shame if the voting didn't have its maximum turnout or the best results for that reason and no other option was given. So, fingers crossed people will get out and vote but can do it safely.

Paige: When I was reporting on this issue, last year, obviously, it seemed like the pulse on everything was that people were for a new constitution for some of the issues we talked about in previous episodes of more equitable health care, education, a pension system that's more equitable—basically equality issues. There's a lot of inequality in Chile, so they want to make it a constitutional right to have some of these basic human necessities. I think the big thing that will be interesting to see on October 25th, is how the constitution will be written. If it passes, are we going to do politicians write it? Or are we going to do fifty-fifty? Or are we going to do all the people? It will be interesting to see how the people want the new constitution to be written if it does pass.

Ian: Exactly. And this is one of those things, it's one step at a time. Make sure the first referendum gets passed and then move on to the next step and then the next step and, hopefully, leads to this equality that we've been talking about. But, like we said, it's step by step—we'll have to see. I think a lot of it too just goes back to the fact like I said earlier, the constitution still stands from 1980 when Pinochet was around. And so, if anything, it's just kind of a constant reminder for people that they still live with the shadow of the dictatorship. So, if anything, of course, I hope it passes, but hopefully, it takes that shadow, that dark feeling off of what a lot of people still feel because of the old constitution.

Paige: I think what's crazy and this happens, I think, in all countries, that democracy and governance is slow. And so, October 25th, people are going to vote if they want a new constitution and how. And then in April, they decide who's going to be the people that actually write it. They have a year to write it, and then I think in 2022, they'll vote on whether they like the changes. This is the first step of so many steps. If all things go well, Chile is not going to see a new constitution until probably sometime in 2022.

Ian: You said it. It's like we were saying, step by step. This is the first step and on a long road to recovery to equality. But as a wise man once said, “Every journey starts with the first step.” So, hopefully, this will be the right first step and, again, despite all the craziness that we've seen this year—well, in the last year especially in Chile, including this social uprising—emotions are boiling over. Things need to change. We're getting to the end of the year, to this crazy year, and I think we're going to see a lot of things happen worldwide. So, we'll just have to stay tuned and see what happens.

Paige: I know, I'm kind of sad I won't be there, just as a person living in Chile but also as a reporter. It’s definitely a historic time.

Ian: I was going to say, the reporter in you is probably chomping at the bit to get down here to get some video, to get some stories. Hey, I can be your foreign correspondent, if you need. We can work something out. I’ll grab a camera and a microphone; a safety mask and we'll be good to go.

Paige: Yeah. Well, Ian, I know there will probably be quite a lot of noise on October 18th, so be safe out there if you're protesting.

Ian: Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll do my best. I'll try to stay safe.

Paige: Well, listeners, as you all know, if you get lost, check out that audio guide and transcript online. Thanks for listening.

Ian: We'll catch you next time.

Paige: “Coffee with Gringos” was brought to you by Dynamic English, where you can learn English simply by using it. If you’re interested in taking classes or just want to learn more, go to our website at dynamicenglish.cl. Thanks for listening.

Key Vocabulary, Phrases & Slang:

 1.     to kick off (phrasal verb): to begin; to start

a.     We will kick off the celebrations with some food and drinks.

2.     shockwave (noun): a widespread feeling of surprise by an unexpected event.

a.     The protests caused shockwaves across the country.

3.     to swarm (verb): to move somewhere in large numbers of crowded people.

a.     People were swarming the streets in anger and protest.

4.     for the books (idiom): a surprising or unexpected and exciting and memorable event.

a.     That party was one for the books. I didn’t expect so many people to come.

5.     apprehensive (adjective): anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.

a.     He felt apprehensive about going home during the protests.

6.     wary (adjective): feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.

a.     The people are wary to see what will happen next following the vote.

7.     cooped up (adjective): confined to a small space.

a.     People have been cooped up in their homes for months.

8.     repressed (adjective): restrained or oppressed.

a.     The people have so much repressed energy from months of quarantine.

9.     boiling point (noun): the point at which anger or excitement breaks out into violent expression.

a.     Citizens reached their boiling point and took to the streets to protest.

10.  to manifest (verb): to display or show something; to demonstrate.

a.     The protestors manifested their thoughts and emotions during the march.

11.  to pump the brakes (idiom): to slow down something; to decrease in momentum or energy.

a.     The government had to pump the brakes on the vote due to COVID.

12.  back-burned (adjective): given less importance; postponed.

a.     Many people feel that the vote has been back-burned due to the pandemic.

13.  fiery (adjective): passionately angry and expressive.

a.     The fiery protestors shouted the entire night.

14.  dwindling (adjective): gradually decreasing in size, amount or strength.

a.     The energy seemed to be dwindling in the streets.

15.  to throw a wrench (idiom): to prevent something from happening smoothly or successfully.

a.     We don’t want to throw any wrenches into the problem so just let me know when you’re ready.

16.  polling station (noun): a place for voting in person.

a.     The number of polling station locations will be increased this year to be safer.

17.  tricky (adjective): difficult; problematic.

a.     They found themselves in a tricky situation that required some changes.

18.  voter turnout (noun): the number of people that vote in an election.

a.     Voter turnout will hopefully be high this year.

19.  catch-22 (noun): a dilemma or difficult situation from which there is no escape due to mutual or dependent conditions.

a.     The voting requirements in Chile present the voters with a catch-22 situation.

20.  pulse (noun): the central point of energy and organization in an area of activity.

a.     The pulse of the movement started with the dreams of the people.

21.  equitable (adjective): fair and impartial.

a.     The people are seeking a more equitable representation.

22.  fifty-fifty (adjective): representing half and half of two things.

a.     The voting will be fifty-fifty between the representatives and citizens.

23.  referendum (noun): a general vote on a single political question for a direct decision.

a.     The referendum vote will happen later in the month.

24.  to chomp at the bit (idiom): to be very impatient or desiring to do something.

a.     She is chomping at the bit to get some live coverage of the protests.