Chilean National Plebiscite, 1980
Encyclopedia
The National Plebiscite in 1980 in Chile
was a referendum held on September 11, 1980 to approve the 1980 Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile
as a replacement for Chile's 1925 constitution. The result was 4,204,897 (67.04%) votes in favor and 1,893,420 (30.19%) votes against ratification. This plebiscite has been, and continues to be, questioned regarding irregularities in its management.
This election made way for the military regime of Augusto Pinochet
, solidifying his position as President of the Republic (with increased powers) for 8 years, after which he would face a yes-or-no reelection plebiscite. Further reforms, beginning in 1989 and most recently in 2005, have attempted to make the constitution more democratic.
To vote, the only document required was a certificate of identity issued by the Civil and Identification Registry Service.
government, with Augusto Pinochet
as President of the Republic, and the Legislative Power of the Military Junta
(formed by the heads of the Navy
, Air Force
, National Police, and a representative of the Army
, the head of the Army being president of the republic
), to a civil one, with a time frame of eight years, during which the Legislative Power would still be the Military Junta. It set the first eight year presidential term for Pinochet, with a plebiscite in the eighth year, in which only one candidate, nominated by the Junta, would be up for acceptance.
The candidate, as expected, was Pinochet himself. While the steps to follow in the case of a triumph of the "yes" option, which the document clearly anticipated, were clearly delineated, the steps for the "no" triumph were less so, but still clear enough that no serious doubt emerged when the "no" option actually was victorious in the 1988 plebiscite.
Some of the 1980 constitution's original dispositions, such as the presidential power of dissolving the Lower Chamber
of Congress and serving eight year terms with possibility of reelection, were modified or eliminated after 1990, when the country regained its democracy
and the Congress was reestablished.
The results of the plebiscite approved the Constitution of 1980. However, the given results were objected to by the political opposition, headed by the ex-senator Patricio Aylwin
and more than 46 others, arguing that this result did not tally with electoral records. One objection was that voters were only marked by ink on the thumb, which came off rapidly, making electoral fraud
easy. These criticisms were rejected by the Scrutiny Association, and the Constitution was promulgated on October 21, 1980.
The new constitution took effect on March 11, 1981. On this date a transition period of eight years began, during which General Pinochet, acting as President of the Republic and the Military Regime (Junta), exercised constituent and legislative power.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
was a referendum held on September 11, 1980 to approve the 1980 Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile
Constitution of Chile
In its temporary dispositions, the document ordered the transition from the former military government, with Augusto Pinochet as President of the Republic, and the Legislative Power of the Military Junta , to a civil one, with a time frame of eight...
as a replacement for Chile's 1925 constitution. The result was 4,204,897 (67.04%) votes in favor and 1,893,420 (30.19%) votes against ratification. This plebiscite has been, and continues to be, questioned regarding irregularities in its management.
This election made way for the military regime of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
, solidifying his position as President of the Republic (with increased powers) for 8 years, after which he would face a yes-or-no reelection plebiscite. Further reforms, beginning in 1989 and most recently in 2005, have attempted to make the constitution more democratic.
Plebiscite
In the election, Chileans older than 18 years of age (including the illiterate and blind) and foreigners with legal residence in Chile older than 18 years of age who could prove their proper immigration status, were allowed to vote. Participation was obligatory, except for those who were physically or mentally impaired, or imprisoned.To vote, the only document required was a certificate of identity issued by the Civil and Identification Registry Service.
Results
The results supplied by the Colegio Escrutador Nacional (National Election Observer Association) were as follows.| Option | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| "Yes" votes | 4,121,067 | 65.71% |
| Blank votes | 83,812 | 1.33% |
| "Yes" total | 4,204,879 | 67.04% |
| "No" votes | 1,893,420 | 30.19% |
| Invalid votes | 173,569 | 2.77% |
| Total votes cast | 6,271,869 | 100% |
New constitution
In its original permanent dispositions, the new 1980 constitution gave the position of President of the Republic, held by Pinochet, a large amount of power. It created some new institutions, such as the Constitutional Tribunal and the controversial National Security Council (COSENA). In its temporary dispositions, the document ordered the transition from the former militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
government, with Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
as President of the Republic, and the Legislative Power of the Military Junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
(formed by the heads of the Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
, Air Force
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force is the air force of Chile, a branch of the Chilean military.-History:The first step towards the current FACh was taken by Teniente Coronel Pedro Pablo Dartnell, when he founded the Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile on December 20, 1910, being trained as a pilot in France...
, National Police, and a representative of the Army
Chilean Army
The Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
, the head of the Army being president of the republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
), to a civil one, with a time frame of eight years, during which the Legislative Power would still be the Military Junta. It set the first eight year presidential term for Pinochet, with a plebiscite in the eighth year, in which only one candidate, nominated by the Junta, would be up for acceptance.
The candidate, as expected, was Pinochet himself. While the steps to follow in the case of a triumph of the "yes" option, which the document clearly anticipated, were clearly delineated, the steps for the "no" triumph were less so, but still clear enough that no serious doubt emerged when the "no" option actually was victorious in the 1988 plebiscite.
Some of the 1980 constitution's original dispositions, such as the presidential power of dissolving the Lower Chamber
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of Congress and serving eight year terms with possibility of reelection, were modified or eliminated after 1990, when the country regained its democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and the Congress was reestablished.
Consequences
Patricio Aylwin
Patricio Aylwin Azócar was the first president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.- Early life :...
and more than 46 others, arguing that this result did not tally with electoral records. One objection was that voters were only marked by ink on the thumb, which came off rapidly, making electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
easy. These criticisms were rejected by the Scrutiny Association, and the Constitution was promulgated on October 21, 1980.
The new constitution took effect on March 11, 1981. On this date a transition period of eight years began, during which General Pinochet, acting as President of the Republic and the Military Regime (Junta), exercised constituent and legislative power.
External links
- Official translation of the original 1980 Constitution (PDF file)
- Text of Chilean constitutions - Library of Congress of Chile (Spanish original)