Chile's President Gabriel Boric (center) poses for a picture with supporters as he arrives to vote on the draft of a new constitution in Punta Arenas, Chile, Dec 17, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

SANTIAGO - A majority of Chileans voted against a conservative proposal to change the constitution in a plebiscite on Sunday, marking the second time such a proposal was rejected.

Therefore, the 1980 Constitution which was approved during the presidency of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and has undergone some important but no structural modifications, will stay in force.

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On Sunday night, President Gabriel Boric said the people had clearly expressed their will and that, at least during his term, his government would not pursue a third attempt to change the constitution.

According to the last tally from the Chilean Electoral Service, with 99.97% of the vote counted, a total of 55.76% Chileans voted against the new text while 44.24% voted in favor of it

When he was a deputy, Boric was one of the politicians who promoted the first rewrite of the constitution that was championed by the Chilean left, and although he did not express his will as president this time, his political coalition was inclined to go against the proposal.

"The country became polarized, divided and regardless of this resounding result, the process did not manage to channel the hopes of having a new Constitution written for everyone," he said.

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According to the last tally from the Chilean Electoral Service, with 99.97 percent of the vote counted, a total of 55.76 percent Chileans voted against the new text while 44.24 percent voted in favor of it.

Jose Antonio Kast, leader of the Republican Party, which had over half of the members of the constitutional body that presented the proposal, acknowledged the defeat with "much clarity and much humility."

For her part, president of the Socialist Party Paulina Vodanovic, one of the leaders of the government alliance that campaigned to reject the proposal, affirmed that Chile "once again put the need to build a major agreement at the center of national concerns."

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According to experts, the proposed text sought to strengthen private property rights and advocate for more stable governance but might be detrimental to some minorities.

The Chilean government was open to changing the current Constitution after the social outburst of October 2019, caused by protests against worsening inequality and social injustice.

Therefore, a constitutional assembly was elected to draft a new text, which was rejected in a plebiscite in September 2022.