Hello, and welcome back to the Latin America Weekly newsletter! In this issue: the uphill battle facing the constitutional convention in Chile. The new crisis dogging Peru’s Pedro Castillo. And Costa Rica’s new president.
Constitutional convention up against Chileans’ mistrust
Gabriel Boric, the new left-wing president of Chile, had reasons to celebrate last week after the Constitutional Assembly reached a crucial deal that saved the convention from being plunged into crisis. But over the weekend, multiple pollsters showed that momentum behind the new charter has waned, and there are now more Chileans considering voting against the new Constitution than in favor.
By the numbers. According to Cadem, rejection of the new Constitution rose by a massive 10 points to reach 46 percent, while approval dropped 6 points.
- The poll was published just hours after a similar Pulso Ciudadano survey had 36 percent of Chileans leaning towards voting ‘no’ in the exit referendum, against 32 percent leaning ‘yes.’ Feedback Research also has rates of rejection exceeding approval by a 44-41 margin.
- Confidence in the assembly also reached its lowest level since measurements began, with 55 percent of voters in Chile saying they don’t trust their representatives in the convention.
Why it...