Boric has a plan B if Chile rejects the new constitution

Not long ago, the constitutional debate in Chile was framed as a clear binary: either pass the new charter proposed by the convention or retain the Augusto Pinochet military dictatorship-era constitution. In government circles, it was taboo to suggest there could be a third option, with many in the ruling coalition arguing that to accept such a thing would be a sign of weakness.

But with President Gabriel Boric struggling to secure backing from centrist politicians and voters alike, and polls showing a likely rejection of the new draft in the September 4 exit referendum, the government has started to accept that a middle ground might be necessary.

Last week, Mr. Boric finally suggested a Plan B in case the Constitutional Assembly’s proposal does not make it past the plebiscite.

“In case rejection wins, what’s going to happen is that this process will need to be prolonged for another year and a half, in which we will discuss everything again from the start,” Mr. Boric said.

That would mean a congressional call for a new Constituent Assembly, whose members would also need to be voted-in again, with a new draft process taking place, before a second exit referendum.

This week, Mr. Boric went even further, showing additional signs of flexibility by agreeing to a centrist...