The former presidents of Chili They cast their vote this Sunday in the plebiscite to replace the current Constitutionwritten during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and partially renovated in democracywith diverse opinions on whether to approve or reject a proposal protected by the right and the extreme right.
One of the earliest risers was the former socialist president Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010 and 2014-2018), who around 9:20 local time approached the La Reina Bicentennial Schoolin the region Metropolitanwhere he assured journalists: “I prefer something bad to something terrible.”
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Convinced that the proposal would represent a setback with respect to women’s rights and the consolidation of machismo, she attacked those who have criticized it for having been clear and having campaigned in favor of the rejection, option that both the Government collation and other progressive movements support.
“When all the former male presidents have given their opinion, no one criticized. The only one they criticized is me. There will be machismo involved, I say”, he assured.
“There are many people who want to be president, who want to do other things, I am not looking for anything, I have no reason to lie. Furthermore, the women of Chili You know that in all my Governments I was very concerned about the issues of women, therefore, when I talk about what it means for women, I say it because I am convinced of it“, he claimed.
“I have my clear opinions… I always prefer something bad to something terrible…If there are people who aspire to govern in the future“You have to understand that governing is reaching agreements.”he remarked.
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Piñera harshly criticizes the Government
The former conservative president presented himself along a completely different line Sebastian Piñera (2010-2014 and 2018-2022), who cast their vote at the college Rafael Sotomayor in Las Condesone of the richest neighborhoods in the capital, and did not miss the opportunity to harshly criticize the Government.
“I hope that the Chileans and chileans come to vote and so we have the possibility of finally having a constitution approved in full democracy“, he claimed.
“chile needs stability, needs unity… bring out Chili out of the swamp we are in and get it going again. May we grow again, create jobs, innovate, undertake, to invest“said the president, whose brother was the creator of the private pension system that has been in effect since the dictatorship (1973-1990).
Piñera added that “Chili “You cannot continue with this uncertainty.” and what are you waiting for “Let us take advantage of this opportunity to approve a Constitution in full democracy”.
“I am sure that one of the two options, and you know which one it is, closes the process better and gives us better tools and better opportunities to begin to defeat the crime and violence that are unleashed in our country.”, he added before criticizing the Government.
“It is a country that is more divided, more insecure, with more violence, it is economically stagnant, it is not capable of growing or creating jobs.“, he stressed before pointing out that “start defeating delinquency and giving back to Chileans their right to live with greater peace and tranquility is the first priority in which everyone we must collaborate”.
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Lagos calls for a clear result
The former socialist president Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006), the man who promoted the most ambitious reform of the current text, but without repealing it, was more cautious and simply asked for a clear result to be able to close a process that has lasted almost four years.
In high school Superior of Commerce Eduardo Frei Montalva, in the center of Santiagoassured journalists: “Today is an important day for Chili. I hope that today is a day like the other days to which we are accustomed, where Chileans can realize what we hope for in the future.”
In his opinion, citizens expect “a Chili stronger, more integrated. Today we are respected in the world. But in Chili We have the house a little messy and now we have to reach clarity of the message that is being expressed.”
“I hope there is a very clear result and that we all agree to continue working together for a Chili better” he stated before remembering that “The constitutional discussion closes today, where in the Later everyone will be able to give an explanation of what happened.”.
“The important thing is that we have a clear result. Let citizens express themselves clearlyandz, from there, let’s understand that Chile has a view of the very positive external world, But it is within the country where we do not learn to respect each other and it is necessary to have respect for each other and hope that it can be fulfilled starting today,” stated Lagos, who during the campaign placed himself in the band in favor of rejection.
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Frei, in favor of approval
Like Piñera, the former president Eduardo Frei Tagle (1994-2000) criticized the coalition of Government progressive and asked for a vote in favor of the new text.
“I reiterate my position, I think that we have five years of constitutional discussion, we need certainties, security, legal certainty; I think that starting tomorrow we are going to live a new moment.”he claimed.
“Today is a day deeply democraticin which we are all called to participate to define the destiny of our countryand also each one is worth a vote, we have to respect the results“said the conservative freiwho had already announced his vote before the campaign.
