Chile to hold referendum on new constitution following protests

Chilean protesters won a landmark victory Friday as lawmakers agreed to hold a referendum on the nation’s dictatorship-era constitution, a move that underscored the growing force of street demonstrations that began nearly a month ago as an outcry over a subway fare hike.

The agreement, which calls for a plebiscite in April 2020, was signed early Friday after two intense days and nights of negotiations between opposing parties in the National Congress.

In recent weeks, protests that started with students jumping over subway turnstiles to protest the transit hike have morphed into a broader movement joined by left-leaning parties and unionists. President Sebastian Pinera has offered concessions including a freezing of the subway fares, wage and pension increases, tax reform and a new government cabinet.

But the protests have not stopped. Demonstrators have demanded a new “social pact” and constitution. Clashes have erupted between protesters and police, who have been accused of torturing, raping and blinding demonstrators. At least 20 have died and 2,500 have been wounded. Thousands of protesters have been arrested, and some have been charged with setting deadly fires.

Chile, a model of the free market, is South America’s richest nation per capita. But it remains highly unequal, an issue that protesters say is partly the product of a constitution that was drafted during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet and that limited the role of the state.

“We are responsible for many of the injustices, inequities and abuses that Chileans have pointed out to us,” Senate president Jaime Quintana said in a news conference in which he presented the two-page agreement.

“This is a peaceful and democratic exit to the country’s crisis.”

Protesters celebrated the referendum as a step toward the

“structural change” that they are demanding. Those who have taken the streets — millions of mostly middle-class students, workers and professionals — are angry about the high price of education, health care, public services and shrinking pensions.

The April referendum, according to the agreement, would ask voters if they want a new constitution and, if so, whether it should be drafted by ordinary Chileans or a combination of those citizens and lawmakers.