What’s at stake in Chile’s constitutional election?

Welcome to “Number of the Week,” where we choose a single figure that helps understanding what is going on in Latin America. This week’s numbers explain what is at stake as Chile elects a new Constitutional Assembly.

155officials

will draft a new constitution for Chile

Chileans lack faith in their institutions. According to a November 2020 study by Almabrands, only one-quarter of citizens trust the government. Other institutions suffer a trust deficit, such as the police – previously the third-most trusted institution in the country in 2016, down to 159th by last year. 

Despite posting what is arguably Latin America’s best socioeconomic indicators — and leading the region in coronavirus vaccine rollouts —, Chile is a fractured country. Its Congress is highly fragmented, while the government is struggling to hold onto a minimum threshold of popularity.

And this year the country goes to the polls in two highly consequential ballots: an election to choose the 155 representatives tasked with...