A constitutional referendum was held in

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

on 30 July 1989 to approve a series of amendments to the 1980 Constitution.

Dieter Nohlen Dieter Nohlen (born 6 November 1939) is a German academic and political scientist. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Heidelberg. An ex ...

(2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II'', p262 The proposed changes were overwhelmingly supported, with 91% of voters in favor.Nohlen, p268

Background

Following the defeat of General

Augusto Pinochet Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (25 November 1915 – 10 December 2006) was a Chilean military officer and politician who was the dictator of Military dictatorship of Chile, Chile from 1973 to 1990. From 1973 to 1981, he was the leader ...

in the 1988 plebiscite, where Chileans voted against extending his rule, Pinochet and opposition forces agreed to revise the 1980 Constitution. The

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

sought to implement 54 constitutional reforms. Key amendments included changes to the procedures for amending the Constitution, limitations on

emergency powers A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...

, recognition of political pluralism, and the strengthening of constitutional rights and democratic principles, including broader participation in political life. The government and nearly all political parties supported the reforms. However, the right-wing Party of the South and the

Chilean Socialist Party The Socialist Party of Chile (, or PS) is a centre-left to left-wing political party founded in 1933. Its historic leader was President of Chile Salvador Allende, who was deposed in a coup d'état by General Augusto Pinochet in 1973. The military ...

(not to be confused with the

Socialist Party of Chile The Socialist Party of Chile (, or PS) is a centre-left to Left-wing politics, left-wing political party founded in 1933. Its historic leader was President of Chile Salvador Allende, who was deposed in a 1973 Chilean coup d'état, coup d'état by ...

) opposed the changes, advocating for a "No" vote.

Results

By region

References

Constitutional referendums in Chile

Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990)

Constitutional A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

Referendums in Chile {{Chile-election-stub