Chile Roundup: Referendum, EU deal, arrest, ‘SuperTanker’, weapons
A new referendum this Sunday
On Sunday, December 17, approximately 15.5 million Chileans will vote to approve or disapprove the new Constitution proposal. It marks the second attempt in the last four years to amend the Magna Carta. High participation rates are anticipated due to mandatory voting. Political parties have already defined their positions: left-wing parties oppose the conservative proposal, while the majority of the right-wing parties support it. If it is rejected, Chile would retain the Pinochet-era constitution. Left-wing political parties, who were the primary advocates of the constitutional process, have stated that they would not push for a new process if the proposal was not approved.
New agreement with the EU
On December 13, 2023, Chile became the first country in the region to sign the Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA), a new-generation agreement with the European Union. Two decades after the implementation of the initial deal, this new pact aims to strengthen the framework of the bilateral relationship, deepen political dialogue, promote cooperation, and enhance economic ties. It also addresses new challenges such as climate action and digitalization, as reported by the European Union.
Individual pardoned by President Boric arrested
On the morning of Thursday, December 14, one of the 13 individuals pardoned by President Gabriel Boric in December 2022 is reported to have been arrested for allegedly being one of the kidnappers of a man in Copiapó, Atacama Region, as reported by La Tercera.
A new ‘SuperTanker’ plane for fighting wildfires
A new supertanker plane has arrived in Chile, announced President Gabriel Boric on December 13. The plane aims to bolster the fight against forest fires during this season prone to large blazes. According to the president, these aircraft have the capacity to transport up to 15,000 litres of water and Chile already has two. Both planes will be in operation for the next 100 days, according to Crónica Digital.
Largest weapons shipment destroyed since 1990
Chile disposed of 25,015 firearms and other accessories to combat insecurity. It's the largest shipment of its kind since 1990. Of the total cache, more than eight thousand devices were seized by the justice system, and 13,323 were handed over to the authorities. The weapons destroyed this year represent a 39 per cent increase compared to last year.
