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Chile: A Crucial Year
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13590 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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4 / 1988 |
1,303 Words |
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Oscar Godoy-Arcaya
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The year 1988 is crucial for Chile's return to democracy. The constitution calls for a plebiscite to be held before the end of the year, beginning the process of electing a president.
For the realization of this event, two electoral bodies will function: one restrictive, composed of the four supreme commanders of the armed forces (army, navy, air force, and police), whose function is to designate the candidate who will be the object of the plebiscite; and the other broad, including all registered Chilean voters, whose number it is hoped will reach about 6.5 million. The citizens must accept (si) or reject (no) the person nominated.
The government will presumably hold the plebiscite at a time most favorable to itself. It is likely that it will set the date in August and call the plebiscite for September.
During the past year, the opposition proposed that open and competitive elections be substituted for the plebiscite. But Gen. Augusto Pinochet's government rejected this demand, arguing that elections involve the classical, democratic method of electing persons to representative public office, while a plebiscite does not allow a choice among many persons. Despite much discussion revolving around these issues, the regime would not relent. In short, Pinochet considers it unwise to open a competitive race for power, at least during this step along the way from his authoritarian government to a democracy.
Several opposition members finally accepted the rules of the game imposed by the military regime and not only agreed to tolerate the legal statute that controls political parties, but also carried out a voter registration campaign. They have initiated a wide-ranging strategy to promote a "no" vote.
Part of the opposition (the political parties of the Center and Center-Left) has united to present the country with a program for a moderate government. It calls for a four-year government during which certain reforms would be made in the constitution to make it less authoritarian. Among the most significant reforms proposed are an increase in the power of the legislative branch over the executive and the subordination of the armed forces to civilian authority. This program recognizes certain accomplishments of the government and advocates the preservation of the basic institutions of the free-market economy, but with a social democratic bias.
The concerted campaign for a "no" vote is a broad-based effort. It incorporates the democratic Left, especially those disposed to take a democratic road following the model of Felipe Gonzalez in Spain and Francois Mitterrand in France. At the outer margin of this effort are the orthodox Marxists, whose strategies are inclined toward a complete break with the regime and, in some cases, to armed confrontation and violence.
The government has assumed a confident attitude. During 1987, Pinochet conducted a relatively successful prepresidential campaign, and the polls show that the projected size of the "yes" vote has grown, though not decisively. In any case, Pinochet has made it clear that he wants to be named a candidate, and it is possible that he may impose his will, especially if his campaigning continues to be successful. Nevertheless, when the time comes, the rest of the commanders in
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