Via the BBC: Chile scraps Pinochet-era system

A special session of Chile’s Congress has voted to scrap elements of the constitution left over from the military rule of Gen Augusto Pinochet.

The decision abolishes a system of appointed senators and gives Chilean presidents the power to sack commanders of the armed forces.

President Ricardo Lagos said Chile’s constitution was now worthy of a democracy.

Gen Pinochet seized power in 1973 and ruled Chile until 1990.

“This is a day of joy and national unity,” said President Lagos after the 150-3 vote in a joint session of the senate and lower house, with one abstention.

He added: “Congress has made possible that from now on, Chile can show the world a constitution that makes our country a full member of the democratic [community of] nations.”

Another amendment to the constitution will be to reduce the presidential term from six to four years.

Also interesting:

But Mr Lagos acknowledged that his government still needed to reform the electoral system, which critics say favours the right and excludes smaller parties.

This is all very good news for Chilean democracy. There was time where I wondered if and when it would ever happen.

Chile does have an odd electoral system that does some strange things to the party system.

Here are the dates:

The new constitution will be signed into law by President Lagos at a ceremony in mid-September.

From March 2024, all senators will need to be elected.

The old constitution had been in effect since a controversial vote in 1980 during Gen Pinochet’s rule.